By Edwin Kule
AFCON 2023 Group B: Results
Cape Verde 2-1 Ghana
Egypt 2-2 Mozambique
Cape Verde secured a 2-1 victory against Ghana in the ongoing 2023 AFCON at Stade Houphouet, Boigny City, on Sunday night.
Jamiro Monteiro and Garry Mendes Rodriguez scored for Cape Verde, while Alexander Djiku pulled one back for Ghana.
Continental threats Ghana kicked off the tournament on the wrong note as they fell to the hands of a well-motivated Cape Verde.
This is the fourth time Cape Verde is playing at the continent’s biggest football stage, and this is their third victory all together in the games played thus far.
Monteiro placed Cape Verde in the driving seat in the 17th minute. The forward tapped home into an empty net after Ghana’s goalkeeper, Richard Ofori, punched Jovane Cabral’s powerful effort into his path.
The Black Stars thought they had returned to the game after Majeed Ashimeru found the back of the net in the 35th minute, but the goal was later disallowed.
Chris Hughton’s troops returned from the break powerful and pumped to get full control of the game. Fifteen minutes after the restart, Djiku nodded the ball into the net to level matters.
Djiku rose highest to nod home Jordan Ayew’s well-swung corner kick to restore parity. Ghana missed a golden chance to take a quick lead after Joseph Painstill fired inches wide from the frame.
In the 92nd minute, Cape Verde regained their lead through Mendes, who capitalised on the mix-up in Ghana’s box. It was a magical moment as the minnows got hold of the maximum points on the day.
Elsewhere in the same group, Egypt needed a last-minute penalty kick to salvage a point in the 2-2 stalemate against Mozambique.
