Africa Cup of Nations - The African Mirror

Jan

19

2024

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 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…

Jan

18

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Favourites Morocco make winning start at Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

MOROCCO underlined their status as pre-tournament favourites by beating 10-man Tanzania 3-0 to make a winning start to their Africa Cup of Nations campaign as Group F got underway at the Laurent Pokou Stadium on Wednesday. Captain Romain Saiss scored a rare goal to put the World Cup semi-finalists ahead at halftime with Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri adding two more in the space of three second-half minutes to emphasise their dominance, especially after Tanzania had Novatus Miroshi sent off after a second caution. The convincing scoreline matched the three-goal victory for holders Senegal over the Gambia on Monday, as…

Jan

17

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Namibia upset Tunisia at Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

NAMIBIA winger Deon Hotto scored in the 88th minute to hand them a shock 1-0 victory over Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday and keep up the sequence of surprise results that have dominated the opening days of the tournament. Hotto sneaked in at the back post to hand the southern African country, 87 places below Tunisia in the world rankings, a deserved win as they were markedly more enterprising and created better chances in the opening Group E encounter at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium. Namibia, competing in their fourth finals but who had never tasted…

Jan

17

2024

By The African Mirror

Late penalty seals Burkina Faso win over Mauritania

AFCON 2023

BERTRAND Traore scored a stoppage time penalty as Burkina Faso claimed a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D clash at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Tuesday, writing a piece of history in the process. It is the first ever win for the Burkinabe in their opening match of the African showpiece finals and came at the 13th attempt, handed to them when Aston Villa midfielder Traore stroked home his spot-kick after a foul by Mauritania captain Mohamed El Abd on Issa Kabore. Burkina Faso dominated possession, but it was Mauritania who…

Jan

16

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Ghana coach Hughton dodges blow from angry fan at team hotel

AFCON 2023

AN angry supporter attempted to strike Ghana coach Chris Hughton after their upset 2-1 loss at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Sunday and was taken away by police, team officials confirmed on Monday. Ghana were beaten by a stoppage time goal by the Cape Verde Islands, the smallest of the 24 teams at the tournament in the Ivory Coast in one of several shock results on Sunday. Hughton was accosted at the team hotel as Ghana returned from the match but the angry fan was intercepted by security officials. Hughton was also subjected to a volley of verbal…

Jan

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Senegal begin title defence in style with 3-0 win over 10-man Gambia

AFCON 2023

SENEGAL began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Gambia helped by Lamine Camara's double in Group C on Monday, bringing an end to a sequence of surprise results at the tournament in the Ivory Coast. After a shock-filled Sunday where the minnows had the upper hand over heavyweight opponents, Senegal restored faith in the form book as Pape Gueye scored early and Camara added two more to ensure victory in the opening Group C encounter. Gueye put Senegal ahead in the fourth minute at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, while 20-year-old Camara, voted…

Jan

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Cameroon, Guinea share spoils in Cup of Nations draw

AFCON 2023

CAMEROON came from behind to share the points with 10-man Guinea in a 1-1 stalemate in the first game for both teams at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast on Monday. Franck Magri equalised early in the second half after Guinea had taken a 10th-minute lead through Mohamed Bayo but then had captain Francois Kamano sent off. The draw at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in the Ivorian capital followed the opening Group C game where holders Senegal easily disposed of Gambia 3-0. Cameroon were without Andre Onana in goal but he did arrive ahead of the…

Jan

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Cape Verde beat Ghana to continue day of shocks at Cup of Nations

NEWS

GARRY Rodrigues scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as the Cape Verde Islands beat four-time champions Ghana 2-1 in Group B to continue Sunday’s sequence of surprise results at the Africa Cup of Nations finals. It was the third match of the day in Abidjan and followed Nigeria’s draw with Equatorial Guinea in Group A while Egypt needed a last-gasp penalty to draw with Mozambique in the opening Group B match at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium. Cape Verde went ahead in the 17th minute when Dutch-born Rodrigues's shot was parried by Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori, falling for Jamiro Monteiro to tuck…