EBIMPÉ, Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana were eliminated from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after they conceded two late goals to draw 2-2 with Mozambique at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Monday night.
A penalty in each half from
Jordan Ayew put the Black Stars in the driver's seat, but Geny Catamo pulled
one back from the spot in the first minute of stoppage time before Reinildo
Mandava capitalised on a blunder from Richard Ofori to head home the equaliser
from a corner in the 94th minute.
Chris Hughton's side finished
third in Group B on two points, one behind Egypt - who also drew 2-2 with Cape
Verde in the concurrent fixture at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium - but a
minus one goal difference means the West Africans cannot qualify for the last
16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
Ghana threatened as early as
the opening minute when Ayew held off two defenders before laying the ball off
for Antoine Semenyo, whose shot from outside the box was tipped over the
crossbar by Ivane Urrubal.
But neither team managed to
take control in the opening stages due in part to the bumpy playing surface,
although a tactical ploy from the West Africans brought the opening goal on the
quarter-hour mark.
Joseph Paintsil had switched
wings with Ayew and the former drew a foul from Nanani after bursting into the
area, with a penalty being awarded following a VAR check.
The Crystal Palace forward
placed his spot-kick into the bottom right corner of the net, leaving Urrubal
rooted to the spotThe Black Stars suffered a setback on 37 minutes though, when
Majeed Ashimeru picked up an innocuous injury after back-heeling the ball to
Salis Abdul Samed and the Anderlecht midfielder had to be replaced by Iddrisu
Baba.
Chiquinho Conde's finally
created their first chance of the game three minutes before halftime as Witi
lashed a shot over the target from distance after making a driving run towards
the box.
They should have been level
three minutes after the restart, but Lau King planted a free header wide of the
left post from Witi's cross following a spell of sustained pressure early in
the second half, which also saw Ofori deny Bruno Langa on 50 minutes after
being teed up by the Sagrada Esperanca striker.
Alfons Amade then tested Ofori
with a looping header from a corner in the 55th minute, although their efforts
to get back into the game were undone 11 minutes later when Mohammed Kudus's
volley struck Mandava on the arm inside the box and the referee pointed to the
spot once more.
VAR checked the incident and
the match official's decision was allowed to stand, with Ayew sending Urrubal
the wrong way after placing his spot-kick into the bottom left corner of the
net this time around.
There was more drama to come
late on though, after the Mambas were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute for
a handball on Andre Ayew and Catamo beat Ofori from the spot to give them hope.
A mistake from Ofori would
prove costly in the 94th minute when he decided to keep the ball in play after
it appeared to be going out for a goal-kick.
However, the goalkeeper
conceded a corner in the process and Mandava headed home the set-piece to make
amends for his handball earlier in the second half.
Mozambique: I.
Urrubal, Nanani, Mexer, R. Mandava, B. Langa, A. Amade (E. Pelembe 73'), Nene
(S. Ratifo 73'), Witi (Gildo 61'), Guima (Shaquille 87'), G. Catamo, L. King
(J. Bonde 87').
Ghana: R.
Ofori, D. Odoi (A. Seidu 72'), A. Djiku, M. Salisu, G. Mensah, S. Abdul Samed,
M. Ashimeru (I. Baba 37'), J. Paintsil (A. Ayew 46'), M. Kudus (I. Williams
89'), J. Ayew, A. Semenyo (D. Amartey 72').
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