2023 AFCON report: Cape Verde v Ivory Coast

by Thando Mpembe

Tuesday Jan 23, 2024. 00:34

With an anxious Mohamed Salah watching on at Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny, Cape Verde and Egypt recorded an end-to-end 2-2 draw in their final Group B match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Date: 22 January 2024

Cape Verde: (1) 2 (G.Tavares 45’, Teixeira 99’)

Egypt: (0) 2 (Trezeguet 50’, Mohamed 93’)

Cape Verde: Vozinha, Semedo, Costa, Diney, D.Tavares, Pina (Fernandes 75’), Mendes (Moreira 64’), Andrade, Santos, Rodrigues (Monteiro 64’), G.Tavares (Teixeira 64’)

Egypt: El Shenawy (Gabal 102’), Fotouh (Sharaf 46’), Abdelmonem, Hegazy, Hany, Ashour, Attia, Fathi (Trezeguet 46’), Marmoush (M.Fathi 82’), Mohamed, Zizo (Kahraba 73’)

After dominating the early stages of the match, Omar Marmoush produced a venomous shot that summoned Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha into action. Not holding back, Egypt remained on the prowl in search of an opener.

Nonetheless, Gilson Tavares gave Cape Verde the lead on the stroke of half-time. Finding himself in the right place at the right time, Tavares’ powerful shot on the turn completely dumbfounded Mohamed El Shenawy in goal.

In what was one of the most eventful second-halves at the tournament so far, Egypt and Cape Verde did not hold back until the last minute in attempting to salvage a result from the tie.

Mostafa Mohamed gave Egypt a crucial lead in the 93^rd minute, however, the Blue Sharks bit back as Bryan Teixeira managed to net a 99^th minute equalizer in Abidjan.

With Cape Verde already in the Round of 16, the 2-2 stalemate between Ghana and Mozambique in the opposite game meant that Egypt finished second in Group B, ultimately qualifying for the next phase of the tournament.