Despite Salah’s premature exit due to injury, Egypt took advantage of two individual errors to score a draw against Ghana, who believed in it thanks to Kudus’ double (2-2).
23:37 – Good night
Thank you everyone for accompanying us to follow this meeting between Egypt and Ghana. The African Cup of Nations takes place tomorrow on linternaute.com including the Group C clash between Senegal and Cameroon at 6 p.m.
23:30 – A draw that suits no one, the match summary
It was a victory that held out his arms to him. Some could have described it as happy in terms of the content but it would have had the merit of relieving the Black Stars for the rest of the competition. Starting after missing his team’s start against Cape Verde, Kudus was decisive as hoped. First at the end of the first period when in added time, he fired a powerful shot from the left which found itself flush with El-Shenawy’s left post; then in the 70th minute responding less than 120 minutes later to the equalizer full of opportunism from Marmoush, who had benefited from the hazardous and risky back pass from Inaki Williams. Certainly, he was helped by the deflection right in front of his goalkeeper from Abdelmonem but the Ghanaian star had done more than his part with his double.
That should have been enough but the Black Stars failed individually. And after Inaki Williams, it was his replacement Bukari who precipitated the return of the Pharaohs. Entering in the 72nd minute, he only took two minutes to have the ball stolen on the right of his area by Trézéguet. The latter then overflowed and went into the axis where Mohamed came to cut the trajectory accurately to beat Ofori. In five minutes, the meeting was packed. Five unbridled minutes away from the tactical and physical battle that had preceded more than an hour and what followed. Both teams had given everything and would not be able to decide between them.
A mixed evening for both nations. If they came back from nowhere and can see this as a boon, the Pharaohs, still admirable in their realism and resilience, may have mortgaged their future since they lost Mohamed Salah. Just before the break, the Egyptian captain sat on the pitch and effortlessly removed his wrist bandage and then his armband before leaving the pitch, without us really knowing the nature of his injury. More than a player, Egypt has perhaps lost its guide, the one to whom it turns when everything goes wrong. So it will have to reinvent itself and rely on other leaders like Marmoush, the best Egyptian side this evening.
For its part, Ghana will long brood over these two individual errors which destroyed the efforts of an entire collective. Beaten for his entry into the running, the four-time winner of the event did not take off and found himself under the threat of another early elimination at the CAN, as in 2022. Still, the return of Kudus can open up certain prospects for him. Whatever happens, this draw is no one’s business, except for Cape Verde, who if they beat Mozambique tomorrow, will be assured of their ticket to the round of 16.
23:20 – Ghana does not advance
If it did not have a second defeat in a row, which has not happened to it to start a CAN since 1984, Ghana failed to win and remains stuck in last place in Group B with one point, tied with Mozambique, which plays tomorrow against Cape Verde, still leader with 3 units. Egypt is provisionally second with two points.
23:10 – Kudus’ reaction
“My goal was to help the team. We wanted three points, everyone did their best but the result is disappointing”reacted to Mohamed Kudus leaving the field, author of a double and elected man of the match.
22:59 – Draw between Egypt and Ghana (2-2)
Nobody wins this evening in Abidjan (2-2). Yet ahead twice thanks to Kudus’ double, Ghana was unable to maintain its advantage, weighed down by two individual errors, and allowed Egypt to come back to their level in an unequal match.
22:58 – Fear over the Egyptian goal
Jordan Ayew rolls his corner in front of the 6 meters. El-Shenawy misses his exit and behind, Baba dives his header which rebounds on the skull of an opposing defender.
22:57 – Ofori’s decisive save
Ashour manages to make the difference with his control and enters the area where he opens his right foot. Ofori relaxes well and manages to catch the ball at 90+6′.
22:52 – Additional time: 7 minutes
There will be seven minutes of added time in this match between Egypt and Ghana.
22:51 – Change for Egypt
In the 89th minute, the very restless Marmoush gives way to Attia, who should come and strengthen the Egyptian midfielder for the final minutes.
22:50 – Double change for Ghana
The Ghanaian coach made a double substitution in the 88th minute with the departures of Abdul Samed and Bukari, who entered in the 72nd minute. They give way to Owusu and Paintsil.
22:49 – Marmoush crosses too much
Served in the axis from 20 meters by Fathi, Marmoush escapes Abdul Samed, gets in the direction of the game and continues with a right shot that goes too far to the left of the goal.
22:48 – Bukari controlled
On the right side, Bukari has juice and seeks to overflow quickly. Hamdi judges the situation well and tackles at the right time to counter the Ghanaian’s cross.
22:46 – The combination does not work
At the right corner of the Ghanaian area, Fathi and Trézéguet try to combine but the first’s delivery for the second is too long and allows Salisu to clear his camp.
22:45 – Ashour takes on Odoi
Ashour hits and climbs into the area where, having lost the ball, he throws himself on Odoi’s shoulder. The referee refuses the penalty that all the Egyptians are demanding.
22:44 – Return of Abdul Samed
While he had just been evacuated on a stretcher, Abdul Samed ran back onto the lawn. Just before, Marmoush had attempted a deflection at the entrance to the area which Salisu had unceremoniously cleared.
22:43 – Abdel Samed injured!
After Salah in the first period, it was Abdel Samed’s turn to sit on the pitch. In the central circle, the Lensois midfielder indicates that he is suffering from his left leg. He is evacuated on the stretcher.
22:40 – Mensah clears his camp
From the left side, Hamdi rolls in a too strong cross which goes beyond the far post where Mensah controls with his chest and clears with his left foot.
22:37 – Fresh break
As in the first half, after 30 minutes, the referee grants a cooling break to allow the players to quench their thirst. Indeed, despite the late hour, it is still 28 degrees in Abidjan.
22:35 – Mohamed equalizes (2-2)
This match is going absolutely crazy. Egypt picks up again after a new individual Ghanaian error. On the right of his area, Bukari, who had just entered the game, had the ball stolen by Trézéguet. The latter pushes to 6 meters and gives back to Mohamed who with the tip of his foot slides the ball under Ofori.
22:34 – New change in Ghana
Just after Kudus’ second goal, the Ghanaian coach brought out Inaki Williams for Bukari.
22:32 – Kudus doubles the lead (1-2)
A few moments after the euphoria of Marmoush’s goal, the Egyptians were overtaken by reality. Following a throw-in near the corner post on the right, Odoi found Kudus who entered the area. Not attacked, he applies himself and rolls up his ball with his right. Abdelmonem deflects the shot which deceives El-Shenawy. Ghana takes control less than two minutes after the Egyptian equalizer.
22:30 – Marmoush equalizes (1-1)
Under pressure from Trézéguet on the right, Inaki Williams plays back towards his goalkeeper but does not see that Marmoush is there in the center too. The Egyptian shows his speed, grabs the ball, goes around Ofori and equalizes from the left in the 70th minute.
22:29 – Elneny replaced
In the 67th minute, the Egyptian coach chose an offensive option to try to equalize. He takes out Elneny, pillar of his midfield, to replace him with the offensive Trézéguet.
22:26 – Semenyo too alone
In the right-back position, Williams is responsible for clearing his side. Kudus improves the ball into a bell and puts it in space on the right for Semenyo’s run. In the duel with Hegazy, he managed to enter the area from the right before hitting low with his left. El-Shenawy picks up without problem.
22:26 – Marmoush unscrews
On his left wing, Marmoush takes advantage of his liveliness to refocus and connect a right shot which escapes him on the right.