The coach of Egypt, Rui Vitória, attributed a short lapse in focus to their unexpected 2-2 tie with Mozambique in their first match of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan on Sunday. However, Mohamed Salah saved them from embarrassment with a last-minute penalty.
The tournament was full of unexpected results, as Cape Verde defeated Ghana 2-1 in the evening match and Nigeria tied 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea.
Salah scored a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time to prevent Egypt from losing their first game against Mozambique. Mostafa Mohamed had given Egypt an early lead with a goal in the second minute, but Mozambique responded with two goals in quick succession in the second half. Vitoria, speaking to beIN Sports, acknowledged a lapse in concentration for three minutes but remained optimistic about their chances of qualifying.
Despite Mohamed’s impressive goal from a turning shot, Egypt failed to find their rhythm. The only notable attempt from Mahmoud Trezeguet hitting the post, Mozambique had little trouble defending in the first half.
Mohamed noted that Salah, who typically plays as a right winger, was positioned as a deep-lying forward during the majority of the game. However, he appeared less energetic compared to Mozambique’s lively offensive plays. Mohamed attributed this to the humid conditions in the Ivorian capital, which drained Egypt’s stamina.
“He mentioned that the weather in Africa has unique characteristics, with high levels of humidity and a decrease in concentration. The advantage is that we are able to learn from our mistakes early on, preparing us for important matches such as the quarter-finals and round of 16.”
Egypt will face their main rivals, Ghana, on Thursday and then finish their group stage games against Cape Verde on January 22nd.
Cape Verde secured a victory over four-time champions Ghana in Group B thanks to Garry Rodrigues’ thrilling stoppage-time goal.
In the 17th minute, Cape Verde scored thanks to a shot by Rodrigues, who was born in the Netherlands. Ghana’s goalkeeper Richard Ofori couldn’t catch the shot and it ended up being tapped in by Jamiro Monteiro from a short distance.
Ghana believed they had tied the score 10 minutes before halftime when Majeed Ashimeru scored a strong goal from beyond Cape Verde’s penalty area.
However, upon a VAR review, it was nullified due to Ransford Konigsdorffer being in an offside position and deemed to be obstructing the goalkeeper’s view.
In the second half, Ghana was able to tie the score after 11 minutes when Alexander Djiku used a header to put the ball in the net from a corner kick by Jordan Ayew. The opposing team’s defense was unable to successfully clear the ball, allowing for the goal.
The game-changing moment occurred during extra time when Mohammed Salisu was unable to get rid of the ball. A smart move by first-time player Gilson Benchimol allowed it to go past Ofori and land at Rodrigues’s feet.
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In the match between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, Victor Osimhen scored a goal in the first half to tie the game. Despite their dominance in the game, Nigeria was unable to convert their chances into a win and ended with a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group A opening match in Abidjan.
Despite the momentum of the game, Iban Salvador scored an unexpected first goal for Equatorial Guinea with a skillfully executed play. However, their lead was short-lived as Napoli’s Osimhen equalized for Nigeria with a header just two minutes later.
The Super Eagles team continued to control the game, but they struggled to get past Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper Jesus Owono who was in excellent form. He made numerous impressive saves, despite some lackluster shots from the opposing team.
Nigeria’s hesitant defense resulted in them being unable to successfully remove the ball. Joseé Machiín passed to Salvador, who was positioned 18 yards away from the goal. With a precise side-footed shot, Salvador confidently placed the ball into the bottom corner for a well-executed finish.
The lead was short-lived as Nigeria quickly responded within two minutes. Winger Ademola Lookman delivered a cross from the left side to the back post, where an unmarked Osimhen easily headed in his 21st international goal.
Source: theguardian.com
