TANGIER, Morocco — The head coach of Egypt’s U-23 team said that he will work round the clock to find solutions to the scoring problem his side faced in the opening match of U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Egypt, the reigning champions, was held to a barren draw by Niger in a Group B match played in Tangier.
“It is evident we had a problem putting the ball in the net. We have to work hard to find solutions to the scoring problem as we continue in the competition,” Egypt’s coach Rogerio Micale said after the game.
The Young Pharaohs were drawn in Group B alongside Niger, Gabon, and Mali. They will face Mali on Wednesday before taking on Gabon, three days later.
Micale said he is not worried about starting with a draw in such a competition because what matters most is how a team completes the tournament.
“I once started with a draw with a junior team of Brazil, but we ended up winning gold,” the 54-year-old coach added.
Despite the draw, the coach made it clear that he is proud of the performance of his team because they created scoring chances and also hit the post four times.
“We need to look carefully at the remaining two teams we must face in the group so that we improve and get better results, “added the Brazilian coach.
He also pointed out that his team must learn how to utilize the final third because there is no weak team in this competition.
The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations is a quadrennial African football tournament organized by CAF for its nations, consisting of players U-23 years of age.
The first three teams in the continental competition will represent Africa in next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Although Egypt had promised to come all out and win their opening match, they found the match tough at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier
The reigning champions came all out attacking in numbers, but found a well organised Niger team that defended well.
In the first-half, Egypt’s captain Ibrahim Adel had two clear chances to score, but shot wide after 25 minutes. Later Adel also had his second attempt saved by the Niger goalkeeper Naim Attenhoven.
The debutant making Niger team that opted for a more defensive approach barely attacked at the Egyptian goal before going into the interval.
In the second-half, Niger’s Mahamadou Moussa Ismael had an attempt at the Egyptian goal, but missed the target when he fired wide.
The two teams made some changes as Egypt continued to dominate play, but lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.
Elsewhere, Ghana’s substitute striker, Emmanuel Yeboah, stole the spotlight by scoring twice to guide his team to a hard-fought 3-2 triumph over Congo.
In a captivating Group A encounter held in Rabat, the Black Meteors emerged victorious, although they faced nail-biting moments in the dying minutes when Congo mounted an impressive comeback from a 3-0 deficit.
After a goalless first half where both sides exhibited resilience, Ghana returned to the pitch with an insatiable hunger for goals at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.
Ghana’s head coach, Ibrahim Tanko, injected fresh energy into the team by introducing Emmanuel Yeboah and Hafiz Ibrahim, replacing Afriyie Barnieh and Sylvester Simba, respectively, and their impact was instantaneous.
Just five minutes after Ernest Nuamah handed Ghana the lead with a simple tap-in from Emmanuel Yeboah’s well-executed cross from the right wing, the Ghanaian squad continued to surge forward in search of further goals.
However, Congo’s Borel Tomandzoto caused some trouble for the Ghanaian backline as he dribbled past a defender, but his shot failed to find the target.
Nonetheless, in the 75th minute, Emmanuel Yeboah etched his name on the scoresheet as he outpaced a defender on the left wing and unleashed a well-placed low shot that left the Congo goalkeeper beaten.
The Black Meteors relentlessly pressed on, and their efforts paid off when Congo’s Djigo Saikou committed a foul inside the box, leading to the referee awarding a penalty after 83 minutes.
Yeboah confidently converted the penalty, extending Ghana’s lead to 3-0. However, the referee ordered a retake after the Congo goalkeeper, Dhody Bissila, moved before the ball was struck, nullifying Yeboah’s successful attempt. Bissila received a caution for his premature actions.
In the third minute of added time, Congo managed to salvage a goal when substitute Reich Kokolo expertly headed in a well-delivered free kick. A minute later, Yann Kouori-Ngatse capitalized on Ghana’s defensive lapses to score Congo’s second goal.
Looking ahead, Ghana will return to action on Tuesday with a crucial Group A clash against hosts Morocco, while Congo Brazzaville will also take on Guinea in the day’s second match. In the opening match, Morocco secured a 2-1 victory over Guinea.
