In a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations encounter, Egypt faced a resilient Mozambique side, securing only a point after a last-minute Mohamed Salah penalty saved them from an unexpected upset.
The match kicked off with Egypt taking an early lead through Mostafa Mohamed after a sharp turn and finish in the box, but Mozambique’s Witi stunned everyone with a superb header to level the score.
Clesio Bauque then added a clinical second for Mozambique after evading the last ditch tackle of Hegazy, turning the game on its head. Despite a lackluster performance from Salah and Egypt, a late penalty awarded after a VAR check allowed Salah to salvage a draw.
The Liverpool star held his nerve to convert deep into stoppage time, with his spot kick going in off the post. The result, however, overshadowed Egypt’s struggles against the determined Mozambique, ranked 111th globally.
Despite the late penalty drama, Mozambique showcased resilience, leaving them with mixed emotions, having come close to their first-ever AFCON win. The point represents only the third ever point they’ve earned in the history of this tournament.
Salah’s quiet performance, although he still ended the game with a goal and assist, raises concerns about Egypt’s upcoming challenge against Ghana. Mozambique meanwhile will prepare for their next fixture against Cape Verde on Friday.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria commenced their Africa Cup of Nations 2023 journey with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in the group stage opener on Sunday.
Iban Salvador of Equatorial Guinea struck first in the 36th minute after a brilliant bit of buildup play by the underdogs. This was swiftly countered by Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, who netted a header following a splendid cross from Ademola Lookman.
Despite concerted efforts, neither team secured a decisive victory, resulting in a share of the spoils in the Group A clash. In the tournament’s inaugural match on Saturday, Cote d’Ivoire claimed the top spot in Group A with a 2-0 triumph over Guinea-Bissau.
The hosts now lead the group after the initial round of matches. Nigeria may be disappointed with their performance today, but Equatorial Guinea, especially goalkeeper Jesus Owono, deserves credit for thwarting them in a standout Man of the Match performance.
The Super Eagles’ next challenge awaits against hosts Ivory Coast on Thursday, in what promises to be an exciting encounter. Equatorial Guinea, on the other hand, will face Guinea Bissau in their upcoming match.
Egypt kicks off their CAF Africa Cup of Nations journey today (17:00 GMT), aiming to surpass their heart-wrenching final penalty shootout to a Sadio Mané inspired Senegal two years ago.
Having made it to the final in five of their last six AFCON participations, Egypt boasts an impressive record, losing only once in their last 19 AFCON group matches – a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in 2021, marking the sole goal conceded in their last 11 group games.
Despite their runner-up finish in previous edition, Mohamed Salah and the team aim to redeem themselves, eyeing a record extending eighth tournament win. The journey begins with a Group B opener against Mozambique at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
Egypt qualified for AFCON 2023 by topping Group D, finishing with 15 points from six matches. Captain Salah, in stellar form, enters the tournament with 14 Premier League goals for Liverpool this season and a total of 18 in all competitions, accompanied by eight assists.
Salah is not the sole scorer for Egypt; Omar Marmoush’s Bundesliga success with Eintracht Frankfurt contributes to the team’s attacking prowess, while Mostafa Mohamed’s 14 goals in Ligue 1 showcase their diversified scoring options.
As the most successful team in AFCON history with seven titles, Egypt seeks to maintain their prominence in the tournament, having been finalists in five of the last six editions.
Mozambique, appearing in their fifth AFCON and first since 2010, aim to secure their first tournament win. Despite previous struggles, their qualification ahead of Benin and Rwanda marks a significant achievement.
Watch out for Geny Catamo, a key player for Mozambique, as they face a challenging yet celebratory journey in Ivory Coast. In the head-to-head history, this will be the fourth encounter between Egypt and Mozambique at AFCON, with Egypt winning the previous three encounters 2-0 in 1986, 1998, and 2010.
The last clash saw an own goal from Dario Khan and a late goal from Mohamed Gedo, who later secured Egypt’s victory in the final against Ghana in 2010.
In the kickoff of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Cote d’Ivoire, the host nation, asserted their dominance with a commanding 2-0 triumph over Guinea Bissau.
Seko Fofana, the Al Nassr attacking midfielder, wasted no time making an impact, breaking the deadlock just four minutes into the game with a powerful strike from inside the area.
His early goal set the tone for the match, and he came close to scoring again with a curler tipped onto the crossbar by Guinea Bissau goalkeeper Djoco. The score stood at 1-0 at halftime.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Jean Krasso extended Cote d’Ivoire’s lead with a brilliant display of ball control inside the area before smashing home, doubling the scoreline and securing their dominance in the game.
The Elephants cruised the rest of the way despite a few mishaps in defence. With this impressive victory, they claim top spot in Group A, earning the three maximum points. Seko Fofana was the pick of the bunch, dominating in midfield and showing his class throughout.
The final standings post the first round of group stage matches hinge on the outcome of the second game in the group, scheduled between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea tomorrow.
The stage is set for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, commencing with a Group A clash between hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. Kick-off is at 20:00 GMT.
Head-to-head:
Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau have a history dating back to a 2001 West Africa Nations Cup match, where the Elephants emerged victorious with a 4-1 win in Bissau.
Cote d’Ivoire’s Recent Form:
The Elephants enter the tournament on a high, boasting a formidable three-game winning streak. Their warm-up friendly witnessed a dominant 5-1 victory against Sierra Leone, following impressive 9-0 and 2-0 wins over Seychelles and the Gambia in 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.
Guinea-Bissau’s Recent Form:
The Djurtus’ recent results include a challenging 6-2 loss to Mali in a friendly. However, they showcased resilience with a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso and a 1-0 win over Djibouti in World Cup qualification matches last November.
Team News:
Both teams enter the opening match without any reported injury concerns. They are both likely to field line-ups resembling their warm-up matches last weekend.
Key Players, Cote d’Ivoire:
Keep a close eye on Jeremie Boga, who delivered a goal and an assist in the 5-1 win against Sierra Leone. Additionally, Sebastien Haller is expected to lead the charge as the Elephants aim for a third AFCON title.
Key Players, Guinea-Bissau:
The Djurtus boast midfield strength with Alfa Semedo and Mauro Rodrigues. Semedo brings experience and a defensive mindset, while Rodrigues possesses the attacking flair to create and convert scoring opportunities.
It is set to be an entertaining game to officially open the 2023 AFCON tournament. Côte D’Ivoire are of course huge favourites but Guinea Bissau will have a plan to try and spoil the party.
