2023 AFCON: Egypt v Ghana report

Match 15 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations saw Group B rivals Egypt and Ghana play out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

Date: Thursday 18 January 2024

Result: Egypt (0) 2 (Marmoush 69’, Mohamed 74’) Ghana (1) 2 (Kudus 45+3’, 71’)

Teams: Egypt: El Shenawy, Kamal, Hegazy, Abdelmonem, Hamdi, H. Fathi, Elneny (Trezeguet 68’), Ashour, Marmoush (Ateya 90’), Salah (M. Fathi 45+2’), Mohamed.

Ghana: Ofori, Odoi, Djiku, Salisu, Mensah, Ashimeru (Iddrisu 62’), Abdul Samed (Paintsil 89’), Semenyo, J. Ayew, Kudus, Williams (Bukari 73’ [Owusu 89’]).

First 45: The teams mostly cancelled each other out, with the key events arriving in injury time before the interval. First, Mohamed Salah limped off with an injury to be replaced by Mostafa Fathi.

And just a few seconds after the exit of the Pharaohs’ talisman, the Black Stars claimed the lead via a brilliant strike from Mohammed Kudus. The West Ham United attacker battled his way into space just outside the penalty area and cracked home a left-footed drive to see his team 1-0 up at half time.

Second 45: The Pharaohs found their way back into the game on 69 minutes, with Marmoush latching onto a poor back-pass from Inaki Williams, rounding the ‘keeper and coolly finishing from a tight angle for 1-1.

However, Ghana reclaimed the lead just two minutes later: Kudus tried a curling shot from the right side of the penalty area which deflected off Abdelmonem and found its way past the right hand of El Shenawy for 2-1.

The drama heightened even further on 74 minutes when Egypt struck again for 2-2. Osman Bukari was dispossessed by Mahmoud Trezeguet, who provided a pull-back from the left by-line to find Mostafa Mohamed, and he duly stabbed a low shot between the legs of Ofori to level the game.

What the result means: The result leaves Ghana still at the bottom of the group on one point, while Egypt climb to second on two points. The group will take clearer shape when Cape Verde (three points) and Mozambique (one point) meet on Friday afternoon.

What’s next: The teams will return to Group B action on Monday 22 January, with Ghana facing Mozambique at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium and Egypt tackling Cape Verde at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.