Egypt, Nigeria and Ghana off to stuttering AFCON start

ABIDJAN — Mohamed Salah saved Egypt from an embarrassing defeat in its opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, while Nigeria was held by Equatorial Guinea despite Victor Osimhen getting on the scoresheet.

Ghana was also in action in Abidjan and suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Cape Verde as three nations with 14 AFCON titles between them all failed to get off to a winning start at this year's tournament.

There was drama at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Cote d'Ivoire's economic capital, as 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 VAR check for a foul on Mostafa Mohamed, and Salah's strike denied Mozambique a historic firstever AFCON win.

"I was sad seeing my players devastated at the end because we deserved the win," said Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde.

His nation has not won a game in its past four AFCON appearances, and this latest result takes its winless streak to 13 matches.

Mohamed gave record seven-time African champion Egypt the ideal start when he scored inside two minutes, but the sapping heat and humidity seemed to get the better of the Pharaohs.

Mozambique equalized through a Witiness Quembo header on 55 minutes and completed the turnaround when substitute Clesio Bauque burst through to make it 2-1 three minutes later.

Salah saved Egypt, but it was not a convincing start to its campaign in Cote d'Ivoire, where it is attempting to win a record-extending eighth AFCON crown and a first since 2010 — before the Liverpool superstar had made his international debut.

"I want to win every match I play, and when we don't I am sad, but 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."

Cape Verde stuns Ghana

Suddenly Egypt's next game on Thursday against Ghana could be make or break for both, with the latter left reeling after conceding in injury time to lose 2-1 to Cape Verde.

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 tucking the ball into the gaping net to the shock of Ghana's fans in the crowd of 12,000.

"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.

The evening was also notable for the appearance of Andre Ayew as a substitute, with the 34-year-old becoming only the third player to feature in eight editions of the competition.

Yet, of far greater concern to Ghanaians is the result for a country whose tally of four AFCON victories is bettered only by Egypt and Cameroon.

Ghana crashed out of the last edition in 2022 at the group stage and Chris Hughton's team also came here on the back of a 1-0 defeat to the Comoros in World Cup qualifying in November.

"We conceded a very poor goal, and hence it is a very disappointing night for us," Hughton said of Cape Verde's winner.

"We have no choice but to make sure it is a favorable result in our next game against Egypt."

Osimhen on target

Three-time champion Nigeria is hoping the presence of African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen will spark a successful campaign, but it was held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in Group A.

Osimhen nodded in his first-half equalizer almost immediately after Iban Edu had opened the scoring for Los Elefantes in a match that ended with both teams on one point, two fewer than Cote d'Ivoire.

The tournament host beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in the same Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

"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.

Of concern to organizers will be the sight of a practically empty stadium, with very few fans attending the game in the 60,000-capacity ground.

Holder Senegal kicked off its campaign on Monday against Gambia in Group C in Yamoussoukro, with Cameroon and Algeria also in action.

AFP