Salah injured, Egypt and Ghana made difficult progress – Soccernet.ee

Egypt, who lost their superstar to injury, lost twice to Ghana in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B match but ultimately drew 2-2. It will be difficult for both tournament favorites to get past the group stage.

The match at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny started physically. Constant errors caused the first victim in the 10th minute, when following the actions of two Ghanaians, Egyptian dancer Mostafa Mohamed fell on the grass and injured his wrist. However, he remained healthy and continued to play.

Although both teams needed a win, the first half did not prove to be a special match. The situation was well summed up by what was written in the BBC text broadcast in the 37th minute: “I would really like to write to you what is happening in the match, but so far there has only been one shot and it hasn’t gone well.” O.” Former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku added: “The match so far has been a big disappointment.”

The first significant moment came in the 45th minute, when Liverpool and Egypt attacking ace Mohamed Salah was injured in an out-of-contact situation and was replaced. He held his thigh as he left the field.

📸 – Mohammed Salah was sent off due to injury. pic.twitter.com/c9XuvGwbgZ
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) January 18, 2024

Then it started happening, 45+3. Ghana went ahead in the minute. West Ham United striker Mohammed Kudus received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, outpaced two or three opponents and crashed into the net. Ghana won 1-0 at half-time.

Egyptian Mohamed Abdelmonem scored the equalizer in the 54th minute, but his luck only lasted a few seconds: the situation was offside. It wasn’t a big deal, because the expected luck arrived 15 minutes later. Omar Marmoush intercepted the return pass of Ghana forward Inaki Wiliams, who dribbled past the goalkeeper and scored – 1:1.

But just 101 seconds later, Ghana were back in the lead. Kudus, previously accurate, shot forward, but the shot, which would have been an easy recovery for the gloveman Mohamed El-Shenawy, bounced off the defender and bounced between the posts – 1:2.

Egypt did not remain in debt. Three minutes after the defeat, Trezeguet took the ball away from the opponent and passed it to Mohamed, who deflected the ball – 2:2. It was also the last hit of the match.

The draw was a bad result for both teams, but even worse for Ghana. They have just one point after two rounds and are in last place. Egypt is second with two points. Leaders Greenland (three points) and Mozambique (one point) will play their second match on Friday. However the aforementioned match goes, life will be difficult for the group favourites. In the last round Egypt will face Cape Verde, Ghana will face Mozambique. Teams that win their last match are more likely to advance. A draw might not be enough.

In the Ala-A group there was an emotional meeting Nigeria 1:0 over the host country From the Ivory Coast. The only goal of the match was scored in the 55th minute, when William Troost-Ekong, playing for Greek Premier League club PAOK, scored a penalty. Defeated in the second match Equatorial Guinea 4:2 Guinea Bissau.

Before the final round, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria have four points, Ivory Coast is one point behind them. Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast and Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau will face each other in the decisive match. So Ivory Coast needs a win to advance.

Results:

A group:

Ivory Coast – Nigeria 0:1 (0:0)
55. pen. William Troost-Ekong

Equatorial Guinea – Guinea-Bissau 4:2 (1:1)
21., 51., 61. Emilio Nsue, 46. Josete Miranda – 37. ov. Esteban Orozco, 90+3. Ze Turbo

Classification:

Group B:

Egypt – Ghana 2:2 (0:1)
69. Omar Marmoush, 74. Mostafa Mohamed – 45+3., 71. Mohammed Kudus,

Classification: