The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024 has been full of surprises so far, and the match between Egypt and Ghana on Thursday was no exception. In a thrilling game, Egypt rallied twice to earn a 2-2 draw against Ghana after losing their captain, Mohamed Salah, to injury in the first half.
Egypt’s Fight Against Ghana:
The game started off slow, with both teams struggling to create chances in the first half. However, things took a turn when Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus scored a brilliant goal from 20 meters out, soon after Salah was forced to leave the pitch due to his injury.
Salah’s Injury Brings Uncertainty:
As Egypt’s star player, Salah’s injury was a major blow for the team. The Liverpool forward had been in great form and had even scored a stoppage-time penalty in their previous game against Mozambique. The team was uncertain about the severity of his injury and had to continue the game without their captain.
Kudus Shines for Ghana:
With Salah off the pitch, all eyes were on Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus. The West Ham attacking midfielder had missed their first game due to injury but showed his importance to the team by scoring a spectacular goal and causing trouble for the Egyptian defense throughout the game.
Back and Forth Battle:
Just when it seemed like Ghana would come out as winners, Egypt’s Omar Marmoush took advantage of a Ghanaian mistake and equalized in the second half. However, Kudus struck again soon after to restore Ghana’s lead. The game continued to go back and forth, with both teams having their fair share of chances.
Egypt’s Late Equalizer:
In the dying minutes of the game, Egypt found an equalizer through Mostafa Mohamed. The substitute striker capitalized on another Ghanaian mistake and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with both teams earning a point.
Analysis of the Game:
Despite the draw, it was a disappointing result for both teams. Ghana now have only one point from their first two games and will need to win their final match against Cape Verde to have a chance of advancing to the next round. On the other hand, Egypt has two points but will have to wait and see if Salah will be available for their next game.
The match between Egypt and Ghana was a rollercoaster of emotions and proved to be a great advertisement for African football. Although Salah’s injury was a major setback, both teams showed great determination and fought until the very end. The AFCON 2024 continues to provide thrilling matches, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store next.
