By Tata Mbunwe
Three African football giants – Egypt, Nigeria, and Ghana – faced unexpected outcomes in their opening matches at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Sunday.
Mohamed Salah scored a late penalty to prevent seven-time champions Egypt from suffering a shock defeat by Mozambique, leveling the scores at 2-2.
Meanwhile, Africa’s 2023 Ballon d’Or winner, Victor Osimhen, scored but Nigeria settled on a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.
Four-time AFCON winners Ghana suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat from Cape Verde in Sunday’s game.
Egypt vs. Mozambique
Seven-time AFCON champions Egypt, led by the iconic Mohamed Salah, experienced a rollercoaster as they salvaged a 2-2 draw against Mozambique.
Egypt took an early lead with Mostafa Mohamed’s goal, but Mozambique turned the game around with two second-half goals from Witi and Clesio.
Despite a spirited effort from the Mambas, Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time penalty, awarded after a VAR check, rescued Egypt from a shocking defeat.
Nigeria vs. Equatorial Guinea
Nigeria, a three-time AFCON champion, faced an unexpected setback in their opening Group A match against Equatorial Guinea, settling for a 1-1 draw.
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen scored an equalizer in the 38th minute after Equatorial Guinea took a surprise lead through Iban Salvador.
Despite sustained attacks from Nigeria, they failed to secure a decisive victory, highlighting the resilience of their underdog opponents.
Ghana vs. Cape Verde
The Black Stars suffered a stunning 2-1 defeat at the hands of Cape Verde, adding another twist to the tournament’s early narrative.
Jamiro Monteiro gave Cape Verde the lead in the 17th minute, but Alexander Djiku’s stooping header brought Ghana back on level terms in the second half.
However, Garry Rodrigues capitalized on a defensive mix-up in stoppage time, securing a memorable 2-1 victory for Cape Verde and placing them at the top of Group B.
