Egpyt qualified for the last 16 of AFCON and rode out the tumult of one of the tournament’s most dramatic group stage finales with a 2-2 draw against Cape Verde.
An injured Mo Salah watched from the stands as Egypt secured a point against the Group B winners to finish second in their group – with both sides scoring a goal in stoppage time.
A point would not have been enough without the late capitulation of Ghana, who conceded two stoppage-time goals to throw away a 2-0 lead against lowly Mozambique and only finish third in the group.
The results mean Egypt scrape into the last 16 with three points while Ghana are effectively out, having finished third in the group with two points.
Though Ghana could still qualify as one of the best four third-placed teams, their chances of doing so are witheringly slender.
Mohamed Salah, injured, watched anxiously as Egypt stumbled into the last 16 of AFCON
Egypt drew 2-2 with Cape Verde – a result which wouldn’t have been sufficient without Ghana’s late collapse elsewhere
Ghana conceded two stoppage-time goals – one from a penalty after an Andre Ayew handball – to throw away a 2-0 lead against Mozambique
Chris Hughton’s side finished third in Group B with two points – most likely not enough to advance
Salah – who has been slammed by the Egyptian public and their most-capped player ahead of returning to Liverpool for injury rehab – will be relieved that his country were spared their blushes.
He will have feared the worst with the Pharaohs staring at an early exit after falling behind to a goal from Gilson Tavares, while Ghana went ahead against Mozambique elsewhere.
But super sub Mahmoud Trezeguet hauled Egpyt level and Mostafa Mohamed fired them ahead at the start of stoppage time.
Cape Verde then rocked Egypt by equalising through Bryan Teixeira, but they were saved by Ghana’s horror show.
Ghana, managed by former Brighton boss Chris Hughton, had taken a 2-0 lead against minnows Mozambique thanks to Jordan Ayew penalties either side of half-time.
But Mozambique pulled one back a minute into stoppage time when they were given a penalty after Ander Ayew – brother of their goalscorer – committed a handball and Geny Catamo fired his effort into the bottom corner.
Their dramatic comeback was complete four minutes into added time when Reinildo Mandava nodded the ball home from a corner to all but end Ghana’s hopes of making the next round.
‘AFCON is mental. What a tournament,’ wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter.
Ghana, four-time winners, will likely exit the group stages for the second AFCON in a row
‘Greatest AFCON group stage ever already hands down. Best group stage of any football tournament in my lifetime,’ said another.
‘This, right here, is outstanding AFCON. You switch over for one game of madness and all you’re doing is missing the chaos on the other channel,’ quilled another.
One stunned user wrote: ‘This AFCON is turning out to be one of the best ever. Goals galore, screamers, late goals, drama, zero controversies. Host team getting knocked out in the group stage [not confirmed]. It’s time for Africa.’
