Ghana’s captain, Andre Dede Ayew, made history at the Africa Cup of Nations, becoming only the third player to participate in eight editions of the tournament. Despite this remarkable achievement, the celebratory mood was short-lived as Ayew’s entry into the record books was dampened by Ghana’s disappointing 1-2 defeat to Cape Verde.

Ayew, who came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute, joined the exclusive company of Rigobert Song and Ahmed Hassan as the players with the most AFCON appearances. The historic moment occurred six minutes after Alexander Djiku’s equalizer, but Garry Rodrigues’ late goal secured a victory for Cape Verde.

Expressing his commitment before the tournament, the 33-year-old Ayew emphasized his willingness to contribute, even if starting opportunities were limited. Despite the setback, Ayew now aims to become the first player to score in seven editions of the AFCON, sharing the current record of six with compatriot Asamoah Gyan and legends Kalusha Bwalya and Samuel Eto’o.

Ghana looks to bounce back on Thursday in a crucial Group B clash against record seven-time champions Egypt, offering Ayew another opportunity to leave a lasting mark on AFCON history.