Egypt twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations’ Group B clash on Thursday at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan after losing captain Mohamed Salah to injury in the first half.
Mohammed Kudus scored both goals for Ghana, drilling in the opener from 20 metres.
Salah limped out of the game just before halftime with what appeared to be a muscle injury as he grabbed the back of his leg following a bursting run. The injury report would have set off alarm bells at Liverpool.
Both teams still have work to do to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Record seven-time winners Egypt, who had Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed on the scoresheet, have two points from two games and face pool leaders Cape Verde next on Monday.
Ghana have gone a team record six games without a win at the Africa Cup of Nations and have a single point from their two matches. They will likely have to beat Mozambique in their final pool fixture to book a knockout place.
While Salah’s fitness for the remainder of the tournament could be the difference between success and failure for an Egypt side that have looked a little out of sorts having arrived in the Ivory Coast in excellent form.
Ghana were shocked by Cape Verde in their pool opener and while this was a better display, coach Chris Hughton will be desperately disappointed they gave away a lead twice in five minutes.
There was plenty of hustle and bustle in the first half, but not much in the way of goalmouth action until deep into stoppage time.
Kudus picked up the ball 30-yards from goal and worked space for a shot, rifling his effort into the back of the net from the edge of the box.
The North African side turned up the pressure after the break and camped in Ghana’s half, but were wasteful with their finishing until they were handed a gift, ‘Inaki Williams’ poor back pass was straight into the path of Omar Marmoush and the forward rounded Richard Ofori in the Ghana goal to score.
Two minutes later the west Africans were back in front as an unsighted Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy could not keep out Kudus’ curling shot from 15 yards.
Both teams still have work to do to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Record seven-time winners Egypt, who had Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed on the scoresheet, have two points from two games and face pool leaders Cape Verde next on Monday.
Though Salah’s fitness for the remainder of the tournament could be the difference between success and failure for an Egypt side that have looked a little out of sorts having arrived in the Ivory Coast in excellent form.
Ghana were shocked by Cape Verde in their pool opener and while this was a better display, coach Chris Hughton will be desperately disappointed they gave away a lead twice in five minutes.
There was plenty of hustle and bustle in the first half, but not much in the way of goalmouth action until deep into stoppage time.
Kudus picked up the ball 30-yards from goal and worked space for a shot, rifling his effort into the back of the net from the edge of the box.
Egypt had conceded two goals in a game once in their previous 28 matches at the Cup of Nations before these finals but have now done it twice in as many matches.
The Pharaohs made it two goals in five minutes as Mostafa Mohammed turned in Trezeguet’s cut-back from the byline to equalise for the second time and share the spoils,
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.
