AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast’s hopes hanging by thread after Equatorial Guinea rout as Egypt scrape through | Football News

A round-up from Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations matches with Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Egypt and Ghana all in motion on day 10 of the event.

Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast

Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast are getting ready to a humiliating exit from their very own event after a shock 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea.

Two extra targets from Emilio Nsue, the hat-trick hero from the win towards Guinea-Bissau, and strikes from Pablo Ganet and substitute Jannick Buyla left the Elephants with solely a slim probability of qualifying after ending third in Group A.

Three factors means they’re unlikely to be one of many 4 third-placed groups to get by, though agonisingly they won’t know their destiny till Wednesday night when the group stage is accomplished.

Equatorial Guinea, in the meantime, have been confirmed as shock group winners forward of Nigeria in second. Ivory Coast had two targets disallowed for offside and snatched at a bunch of presentable possibilities, and so they have been made to pay.

They may have had a penalty when Nicolas Pepe burst into the world after an extended ball excessive fell at his ft and was clearly fouled by Saul Coco.

Pepe opted to remain on his ft, nonetheless, however he was unable to spherical Equatorial Guinea keeper Jesus Owono and the chance went begging.

And Ivory Coast have been surprised three minutes earlier than half-time when Akapo surged previous 4 non-existent tackles into the world and squared the ball for Nsue.

The previous Birmingham and Middlesbrough full-back, now 34 and captaining his nation, swept the ball residence first time.

The host nation thought they’d hit again instantly when Ibrahim Sangare bundled the ball into the web from Pepe’s cross however VAR confirmed the Nottingham Forest midfielder was offside.

Sangare ought to have equalised moments into the second half solely to blaze wastefully over on the far submit and Owono someway denied Christian Kouame from point-blank vary.

Within the 67th minute Jean-Philippe Krasso took Seko Fofana’s cross in his stride and curled the ball previous Owono, however as soon as once more VAR stepped in the place an offside flag had not and the objective was chalked off.

As an alternative, six minutes later Ganet silenced the Alassane Ouattara Stadium with a curling free-kick which flew into the highest nook.

The hosts’ destiny was all however sealed when, within the seventy fifth minute, Jose Machin led a counter-attack and teed up Nsue for a easy end.

And arguably the largest upset in AFCON historical past was full two minutes from time when Buyla lashed residence the fourth.

Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria

Opa Sangante’s personal objective earned Nigeria a 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau as they sealed their spot within the Africa Cup of Nations final 16.

The Tremendous Eagles went forward after 36 minutes when Sangante put by his personal web however have been unable to capitalise on a sequence of fine possibilities to increase their lead, with Victor Osimhen going shut a number of instances.

With Equatorial Guinea thumping Ivory Coast within the different sport within the group, Nigeria completed second in Group A to arrange a gathering with the runners-up in Group C on Saturday.

The loss capped off a depressing marketing campaign for already-eliminated Guinea-Bissau, who threatened Nigeria within the ultimate phases however completed with three defeats.

Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali made the primary save of the sport from Nito Gomes’ formidable long-range effort, however the Tremendous Eagles grew into the sport, Joe Aribo’s highly effective strike taking a deflection and giving Jonas Mendes a routine cease.

Nigeria went in entrance when Moses Simon whipped in a harmful cross meant for Osimhen and Sangante smashed the ball into the roof of his personal web.

That they had an important probability to double the lead simply earlier than half-time as an unmarked Osimhen headed extensive and threatened once more two minutes into the second half when Mendes smothered Simon’s shot.

An action-packed begin noticed Osimhen’s headed effort loop extensive and Dalcio had his low strike saved on the different finish earlier than Osimhen had an effort dominated out for offside.

Guinea-Bissau threatened within the ultimate 10 minutes when Fali Cande’s free-kick took a clumsy bounce, however Nwabali managed to push it extensive earlier than Gomes headed extensive from the ensuing nook.

The late stress virtually paid off as a ferocious strike from Franculino Dju was dominated out for offside and Nigeria managed to see the sport out.

Egypt 2-2 Cape Verde

Mohamed Salah was within the stands to observe Egypt scrape into the final 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations with a breathless 2-2 draw with Cape Verde.

The striker stayed on to observe his countrymen of their essential ultimate Group B match earlier than flying again to Liverpool for remedy on a muscle damage.

He can have feared the worst with the Pharaohs gazing an early exit after falling behind to a objective from Gilson Tavares for the shock group winners.

However substitute Trezeguet hauled them degree and Mostafa Mohamed fired them forward at the beginning of stoppage time.

The Blue Sharks then rocked Egypt by equalising by Bryan Teixeira, however Ghana being pegged again 2-2 by Mozambique meant the Pharaohs clung on to second place.

With Cape Verde having already topped the group, Egypt have been hoping they won’t play with the identical depth that introduced them two wins out of two.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha saved from Mohamed and Omar Marmoush whereas Zizo fired narrowly extensive.

However in first-half stoppage time and with Cape Verde’s first actual alternative, the shock package deal took the lead.

Ryan Mendes headed the ball into the trail of Tavares, who turned sharply earlier than crashing his shot low into the web.

Trezeguet ought to have equalised moments after approaching as a half-time substitute however he blazed his shot over the crossbar.

However the Trabzonspor midfielder made his mark three minutes later when he performed a superb one-two with Ahmed Hegazy earlier than lashing an angled shot previous Vozinha.

Trezeguet virtually instantly put Egypt forward however drilled his shot throughout Vozinha and extensive.

Mohamed had a golden probability from Trezeguet’s cross however agonisingly lifted his effort excessive.

However two minutes into stoppage time Mohamed chased on to a ball excessive and lifted it over Vozinha.

A dramatic victory appeared to have been secured however there was nonetheless time for Teixeira to fireside an equaliser within the ninth minute of added time, though someway Egypt may nonetheless have a good time qualification in essentially the most nail-biting circumstances.

Ghana 2-2 Mozambique

Ghana conceded twice in stoppage time to attract 2-2 with Mozambique as a spot within the final 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations slipped by their fingers.

Jordan Ayew scored a pair of penalties which seemed to be sending Ghana by, however an exciting finale noticed Geny Catamo pull one again from the spot earlier than Reinildo Mandava equalised on the dying.

The 2 dropped factors meant Egypt pipped Ghana to second place in Group B, regardless of additionally conceding a last-gasp leveller in a 2-2 draw with Cape Verde, and Chris Hughton’s facet are extremely unlikely to qualify as certainly one of greatest third-placed groups.

Antoine Semenyo went shut for Ghana simply seconds into the sport, unleashing a robust strike from the sting of the field, however goalkeeper Ivane Carminio managed to tip the ball over the bar.

Ghana have been awarded a penalty when Joseph Paintsil twisted his manner into the field and was fouled by Nanani and Jordan Ayew coolly rolled the ensuing spot-kick into the underside proper nook to open the scoring after quarter-hour.

The Black Stars have been dealt a blow when Majeed Ashimeru was taken off on a stretcher and Mozambique continued to threaten straight after the break as Richard Ofori punched a harmful cross away earlier than Lau King headed extensive.

That they had a flurry of alternatives as Bruno Langa pressured Ofori right into a save and one other probability went begging when the Ghana keeper palmed a nook into the trail of Nene, who headed nicely extensive of a submit.

Following a uncommon foray into the opposition space Ghana earned one other penalty after Mandava dealt with the ball and Jordan Ayew stepped up once more to double his facet’s lead within the seventieth minute.

Mozambique pulled one again a minute into stoppage time once they got a penalty after an Andre Ayew handball and Catamo fired his effort into the underside nook.

Their dramatic comeback was full 4 minutes into added time when Mandava nodded the ball residence from a nook to all however finish Ghana’s hopes of creating the subsequent spherical.