Mohamed Salah rescues Egypt as Nigeria draw and Ghana lose at Africa Cup of Nations
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Egypt's Mohamed Salah scoring a late equaliser from the penalty spot in their 2-2 draw with Mozambique in Africa Cup on Jan 14.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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ABIDJAN – Mohamed Salah saved Egypt from an embarrassing defeat in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Jan 14, while Nigeria were held by Equatorial Guinea despite Victor Osimhen getting on the scoresheet.
Ghana were stunned 2-1 by Cape Verde in Abidjan as three nations with a combined 14 Afcon titles all failed to get off to winning starts.
Egypt needed a Salah penalty seven minutes into injury time to snatch a 2-2 draw with Mozambique in Group B.
The penalty was awarded following a video assistant referee check for a foul on Mostafa Mohamed, and Salah’s strike denied Mozambique a historic first Afcon win.
“I was sad seeing my players devastated at the end because we deserved the win,” said Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde.
Mostafa had given record seven-time African champions Egypt the ideal start when he scored inside two minutes, but Witiness Quembo and Clesio Bauque capped Mozambique’s turnaround.
Then Salah intervened to keep Egypt on track for a record-extending eighth Afcon crown.
“There are no easy games,” said Egypt coach Rui Vitoria. “We were not the best team before the draw was made and we are not the worst now.”
Egypt’s next game against Ghana on Jan 18 could be make or break for both, with the Black Stars reeling after conceding in injury time in their defeat by Cape Verde.
“We conceded a very poor goal, and hence it is a very disappointing night for us,” said Ghana coach Chris Hughton.
“We have no choice but to make sure it is a favourable result in our next game against Egypt.”
The Black Stars looked set to come away with a draw after Alexander Djiku headed home on 56 minutes to cancel out Jamiro Monteiro’s first-half opener.
But Cape Verde pounced on poor defending to grab all three points in the 92nd minute, with substitute Garry Rodrigues silencing Ghana fans in the 12,000 crowd.
Upset by the defeat, an angry supporter attempted to strike Hughton at the team hotel and was taken away by police, team officials confirmed on Monday.
“We want to show the world what we can do, that we are small but we can compete on footballing terms with all teams in Africa,” said Cape Verde coach Pedro “Bubista” Brito.
Three-time champions Nigeria are hoping the presence of African Player of the Year Osimhen can spark a successful campaign, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in Group A.
Osimhen nodded in a first-half equaliser almost immediately after Iban Edu had opened the scoring, leaving both teams on one point, two fewer than the Ivory Coast.
“I am not happy. This draw does not suit us. Our team created a lot of chances but we did not score,” said Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro. AFP
