AFCON 2023: Egypt fight back to draw with Ghana in Abidjan

A Mohammed Kudus brace wasn’t enough for Ghana to secure the win in their African Nations Cup clash with Egypt as goals from Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed meant the points were shared. Both sides remain winless in the competition after two games and there was more conceren for Egypt who saw Mohamed Salah limp off just before the break.

Egypt lost Mohamed Salah to injury but twice fought back to draw 2-2 with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Thursday’s Group B game at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny sparked into life on the stroke of half-time when, just 53 seconds after Egypt’s star man Salah had trudged off with an apparent hamstring issue, the seven-time AFCON champions fell behind to Mohamed Kudus’ stunning opener.

The drudgery of the first half made way for a frantic second period, however, with three goals in the space of five minutes and 10 seconds seeing the pendulum swing back and forth.

Inaki Williams’ dreadful pass enabled the excellent Omar Marmoush to restore parity in the 69th minute, only for Kudus to double his tally 101 seconds later.

Yet Ghana were only able to hold onto their lead for another three minutes, with Mostafa Mohamed tucking home from Trezeguet’s cutback to haul Egypt level once more, though the Pharaohs got lucky when Iddrisu Baba headed wide of a gaping goal in stoppage time.

Salah’s injury came in innocuous fashion – Egypt’s captain dropping to the turf and ripping off his armband in the 45th minute, immediately signalling that he needed to go off and holding his left hamstring.

Egypt’s frustration was swiftly compounded as Kudus found a way through three defenders before arrowing in a wonderful left-footed finish from the edge of the box.
Yet a prolonged spell of Egypt pressure, in which the Pharaohs had a goal disallowed for offside, finally told when Williams inadvertently played in Marmoush, who coolly rounded Richard Ofori before slotting in.

That goal sparked a chaotic five-minute spell. First, Kudus’ low effort fooled Mohamed El Shenawy after taking a slight deflection, only for Egypt to capitalise on more shambolic Ghana defending as Trezeguet got to the line and supplied Mohamed with a simple finish.

Ofori’s save from Emam Ashour’s attempt paved the way for one final Ghana push, and Baba should have won it when he latched onto an inswinging corner, only to put his header wide, with the result leaving the Black Stars on a point and Egypt on two heading into their final Group A matches.