ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire – Egypt showed their true face in the second half of an exciting 2-2 draw with Ghana despite going behind twice, coach Rui Vitoria said.
With Mohammed Kudus firing Ghana ahead with a brilliant opener and Egypt losing Mohamed Salah to injury on the stroke of halftime, the omens looked bad for the disjointed Pharaohs.
However, they came out with all guns blazing in the second half, led by lively winger Omar Marmoush, to share honours with Ghana and keep alive their hopes of advancing to the last 16.
“The players, who have an excellent relationship with each other, had a halftime talk and then they showed their true face in the second half despite conceding,” Vitoria told beIN Sports after the game according to Reuters.
Eintracht Frankfurt winger Marmoush restored parity on 69 minutes after making the most of a poor back pass from Inaki Williams but Egypt’s celebrations were short-lived, with Kudus striking again two minutes later.
However, Mostafa Mohamed ensured Egypt shared the spoils with his second goal in as many games, a trademark poacher’s effort that leaves Ghana in precarious situation in the group.
Seven-time record winners Egypt, who also drew 2-2 with Mozambique in their opening Group B game, have two points from two games and face leaders Cape Verde (three points from one match) on Monday. Ghana lies at the bottom with a solitary point.
“The match (against Ghana) was exhausting; we need to have some rest. We have three days to prepare for the next game,” Portuguese boss Vitoria added.
“There are no easy games; we saw how Cape Verde defeated Ghana. We have to focus on the next game.”
The Black Stars were left to rue another mistake as Mostafa Mohamed levelled on 74 minutes, leaving Ghana with just one point from two matches.
Egypt is only one point better off after back-to-back draws, but their immediate concern will be the health of Salah — whose stoppage-time penalty had snatched a 2-2 draw with Mozambique.
“We will have to keep the same state of mind for the next match against Cape Verde.’” Vitoria concluded.
Ghana has now won just one of their last 11 AFCON matches. They were stunned 2-1 in their first game by Cape Verde, the smallest nation in the tournament who can clinch a last-16 place and top spot in the group with victory over Mozambique on Friday.
Chris Hughton made three changes to his Ghana side as he recalled Kudus and Spain-born striker Inaki Williams, knowing another loss would leave them staring at a second successive first-round exit.
The past four AFCON meetings between the countries had yielded just five goals, a trend that looked set to continue in a quiet first half in which Emam Ashour’s 43rd-minute shot was the first on target.
Salah goes off
Moments later though Egypt lost their talisman Salah and then almost immediately fell behind.
The Liverpool forward slumped to the grass as Ghana countered-attacked, clutching the back of his left leg and resigned to the fact his night at the very least was over.
With Egypt still reeling from the loss of Salah, it was Ghana’s key man Kudus who seized the spotlight, shifting the ball away from a couple of defenders and rifling a left-footed drive into the near corner.
The West Ham attacking midfielder missed the Cape Verde loss through injury, but here he demonstrated how central he is to the Black Stars’ fading hopes of a fifth AFCON title — 42 years after they last won the trophy.
Kudus volleyed an effort into the ground and just over the crossbar before Ahmed Hegazi, who took over the armband from Salah, had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half.
Marmoush forced Richard Ofori to tip over a stinging attempt, but Egypt took advantage of a Ghana lapse to draw level on 69 minutes.
Williams hit an ill-advised backpass that was pounced upon by Marmoush, who nervelessly rounded Ofori and slotted home.
Kudus put Ghana in front again two minutes later after receiving Denis Odoi’s pass in the area, with his shot glancing off Mohamed Abdelmonem and deceiving Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
Ghana was the architects of their own downfall once more though.
Substitute Osman Bukari was caught in possession in his own box, allowing Mahmoud Trezequet to nip in and pull the ball back for Mohamed to steer between the legs of Ofori.
Ashour nearly snatched victory at the death but his curling attempt was held well by Ofori, sparing Ghana from another defeat and keeping them in contention for the knockout phase.
