The Africa Cup of Nations delivered a series of surprising outcomes on the competition’s second day. Cape Verde made a remarkable start to their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Ghana, securing the win with a stoppage-time goal from Garry Rodrigues. Similarly, Nigeria, considered giants in African football, faced a challenging initiation as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Equatorial Guinea side.
In their opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, Cape Verde pulled off a shock 2-1 win against the four-time champions, Ghana. Jamiro Monteiro opened the scoring for the islanders in the first half, but Ghana managed to equalize after the break with a header from Alexander Djiku. However, just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Cape Verde seized the opportunity presented by a defensive mistake, allowing Garry Rodrigues to tap into an empty net in the 92nd minute.
For Ghana, the defeat marked a disheartening start, reminiscent of their disappointment in the 2021 edition when they failed to progress past the group phase. Ryan Mendes, reflecting on the victory, expressed a sense of payback for Cape Verde, stating, “When we lost in South Africa, we didn’t deserve to lose this game, but tonight we take our revenge.”
Ghana’s manager, Chris Hughton, conveyed profound disappointment with the result, emphasizing the strategic adjustments made for a more offensive play. Despite Ghana’s equalizing goal, Hughton acknowledged the setback caused by the conceded goal and the missed opportunity to secure a victory.
Looking ahead, Ghana is set to face Egypt in their next group-stage match on Thursday, with both teams eagerly seeking a positive result. Meanwhile, Egypt managed a 2-2 draw against Mozambique on Sunday, securing the tie with a stoppage-time penalty from Mohamed Salah.
In a parallel scenario, Nigeria experienced a challenging start to their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea. The underdogs took a surprising lead with Iban Salvador’s clinical finish, but Nigeria swiftly responded, with Victor Osimhen equalizing just two minutes later with a header at the back post. Despite the draw, Nigeria’s coach, Jose Peseiro, expressed optimism about their dominant performance, emphasizing the need to maintain such dominance for success.
Looking forward, Nigeria faces a formidable task in their next match against host Ivory Coast at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. The Africa Cup of Nations continues to deliver unexpected outcomes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats for each thrilling match.
