AFCON 2023: Late Mozambique rally puts Ghana's dreams of advancing in danger
Two late game goals from the Mambas means the Black Stars will have to sit and wait if they advance on ranking
Football
Ghana's Black Stars are in for a nervous two days after a 2-2 draw with Mozambique in their final Group B match on Monday (22 January) at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire.
The draw means Ghana failed to win a game in the 2024 tournament, having lost 1-2 to Cape Verde and drawn even with Egypt earlier in pool play. Now, they'll have to wait as group play continues to see if they'll advance to the knockouts as one of the four best third-ranked teams.
Ghana is seeking its first contiental title in more than four decades. Their last title came in 1982.
On Monday, Ghana's Jordan Ayew led the squad with two goals. The first came early on, as Ayew took advantage of a penalty kick in the fifteenth minute.
Ayew struck again on a penalty kick in the 70th minute for what seemed like a decisive 2-0 lead that held steady through the 90th minute of play.
But disaster struck Ghana in extra time as Mozambique scored first off a penalty kick from Geny Catamo in the 90'+1 minute. Then, at 90'+4, Reinildo Mandava found the tying goal to dash Ghana's dreams of advancing.
Despite a 2-2 daw with Egypt Monday, Cape Verde ends its group play atop the Group B standings with seven points. Egypt finished second with three. Both squads are set for the knockout round.