The Black Stars of Ghana battled hard but were held to a 2-2 draw by Egypt in their second Group B match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Thursday night. Although Mohammed Kudus stole the show with a dazzling brace, defensive lapses allowed Egypt to snatch a point, leaving Ghana’s qualification hanging in the balance.
Kudus broke the deadlock just before halftime, igniting hope for the Ghanaians. However, Omar Marmoush capitalized on a defensive error to equalize for Egypt in the 69th minute.
Undeterred, Kudus struck again two minutes later, putting Ghana back in the lead. But their joy was short-lived, as Mostafa Mohamed equalized once more in the 74th minute, dashing Ghana’s hopes for a full three points.
Ghana coach Chris Hughton, visibly frustrated, bemoaned the missed opportunity: “It’s very frustrating. I felt we deserved to win the game.” he told the press after the game
With just one point from two matches, Ghana sit at the bottom of Group B. Their fate now hinges on the outcome of Cape Verde’s clash against Mozambique on Friday. A Cape Verde win would solidify their top spot, leaving Ghana needing a win against Mozambique in their final group game on January 22nd to secure a place in the round of 16.
The Black Stars must find a way to channel their attacking prowess and tighten their defence to overcome Mozambique and keep their AFCON dream alive.