AFCON 2023 - The African Mirror

Jan

21

2024

Angola win five-goal affair at Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

TWO goals from Gelson Dala edged Angola closer to a place in the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations finals as they beat Mauritania 3-2 on Saturday to go top of the Group D standings in a match full of high quality goals. Winger Gilberto netted the other for the winners while Amar Sidi Bouna and Aboubakary Koita scored fine individual efforts for Mauritania, who lost a second game at the tournament in Ivory Coast and sit bottom of the standings. Angola are ahead of Burkina Faso on goals scored with top seeds Algeria third in the group…

Jan

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Guinea beat Gambia to take giant step towards last 16 of Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

AGUIBOU Camara scored a second-half winner to give Guinea a 1-0 victory over Gambia at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Friday and help them to take a giant step towards a place in the last 16 of the tournament in the Ivory Coast. Camara slid home a pass from Morgan Guilavogui to hand Guinea a deserved triumph after they dominated the Group C clash at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium. Guinea has four points in second place in the standings behind holders Senegal, who top the table with six after they beat Cameroon 3-1 earlier in the day.…

Jan

20

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Examinations on Salah’s injury not complete, says Egypt doctor

AFCON 2023

THE extent of Mohamed Salah’s hamstring injury and his future participation at the Africa Cup of Nations finals remained uncertain after Egypt said examinations had not yet been completed. Salah pulled up with a hamstring strain before halftime in Thursday’s Group B game against Ghana in Abidjan and was due to have a scan on the injury. Still, Egypt doctor Mohamed Abu El-Ela said they had not completed all their investigations. “The results of the medical examinations he underwent were not completed today and thus the decision on his participation was postponed,” he said. He said Salah had initially wanted…

Jan

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Champions Senegal steam into last 16 with 3-1 win over Cameroon

AFCON 2023

ISMAILA Sarr scored one goal and laid on another as defending champions Senegal beat Cameroon 3-1 and booked their place in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving their opponents in some peril. Sarr opened the scoring in the first half of the Group C clash in Yamoussoukro after a mistake by Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was playing his first game of the tournament after a late arrival in the Ivory Coast. Habib Diallo added the second goal from Sarr’s cross before Jean-Charles Castelletto scored a late consolation for Cameroon. Sadio Mane completed the…

Jan

20

2024

By JOEL OMOTTO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Foreign-born players fueling title glory for teams at 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

TWENTY-FOUR nations, divided into six groups, are competing at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast but the most striking aspect is the large number of players born outside of Africa. The 2023 tournament has several global superstars setting it alight and of the 630 selected for the various nations, 200 were not born on the continent. South Africa, Namibia and Egypt are the only nations without a player born out of Africa. After the 2019 tournament in Egypt, many were surprised to see the streets of Paris full of celebrations after Algeria won the tournament…

Jan

20

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Cape Verde Islands beat Mozambique to win Cup of Nations group

AFCON 2023

THE Cape Verde Islands, the smallest country competing at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, became the first to book their place in the next stage of the competition as they beat Mozambique 3-0 on Friday. It was their second victory in Group B after a giant-killing 2-1 triumph over Ghana on Sunday and guarantees them top place and a spot in the last-16. Former Manchester United forward Bebe fired home a free kick from some 35 metres out in the 32nd minute with captain Ryan Mendes scoring their second soon after the break at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium. Another…

Jan

19

2024

By The African Mirror

Egypt face anxious wait over Salah injury after Ghana draw

AFCON 2023

MOHAMMED Kudus scored a brace of goals but Ghana twice let a lead slip to draw 2-2 with Egypt in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash in Abidjan on Thursday, with the latter facing an anxious wait over an injury concern for Mohamed Salah. Salah limped out of the game just before halftime with what appeared a muscle injury as he grabbed the back of his leg following a bursting run. It will have set off alarm bells at Liverpool, too. Both teams still have work to do to qualify for the knockout rounds. Record seven-time winners Egypt,…

Jan

19

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Nigeria upset hosts at Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

NIGERIA handed Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast a 1-0 defeat in their Group A clash at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Thursday with a second-half penalty settling the encounter. Captain William Troost-Ekong struck home the 55th-minute spot kick after a VAR review showed that young Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande had impeded Victor Osimhen. The result means Nigeria moved above the Ivorians in the standings by four points along with Equatorial Guinea, who beat Guinea Bissau 4-2 earlier. The hosts have three. The clash of the West African heavyweights was a largely languid affair, dominated by physical battles and…

Jan

19

2024

By The African Mirror

Hughton thankful for support after attack from fan

AFCON 2023

GHANA coach Chris Hughton said he was thankful for messages of support received after an angry supporter tried to attack him at the Africa Cup of Nations over the weekend but preferred not to dwell on the incident on Wednesday. Hughton was accosted at the team hotel as Ghana returned from their upset 2-1 defeat by the Cape Verde Islands in their opening game of the tournament on Sunday but the angry fan was intercepted by security officials. The 65-year-old Hughton was also subjected to a volley of verbal abuse after the loss came from a stoppage time goal by…

Jan

19

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Nsue hat-trick earns Equatorial Guinea handsome win over Guinea Bissau

AFCON 2023

VETERAN striker Emilio Nsue grabbed a hat-trick as Equatorial Guinea beat Guinea Bissau 4-2 to put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 in the Ivory Coast. Nsue opened the scoring in the 21st minute and added two more in the second half with Josete Miranda also on target in the Group A encounter. Guinea Bissau's goals -- their first in eight matches at the finals since 2017 -- came from an own goal from Esteban Orozco to level the score at 1-1 and a stoppage-time consolation effort from Ze Turbo. The win…