Egypt rally twice for Ghana draw after Salah injury blow

Ahram Online , Friday 19 Jan 2024

Egypt came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Ghana in a Nations Cup Group B game on Thursday.

Omar Marmoush
Egypt s forward #22 Omar Marmoush celebrates scoring his team s first goal as Ghana s midfielder #20 Mohamed Kudus reacts during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group B football match between Egypt and Ghana at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 18, 2024. AFP

 

Mohammed Kudus scored both goals for Ghana but the “Black Stars” defensive mistakes allowed Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed to level the score twice.

With the draw, Egypt sit in second place with two points, trailing group leaders Cape Verde by one point.

Cape Verde will face Mozambique on Friday. Ghana remain at the bottom of Group B with just one point, level with Mozambique.

The match did not start well for the Pharaohs, and they suffered a setback just before halftime when Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah was forced off the field due to a left thigh injury.

However, Ghana was boosted by the return of Mohammed Kudus, who had recovered from a hamstring injury.

He scored in first-half injury time, shortly after Salah's departure, with a powerful shot from outside the area.

Kudus had another chance in the second half, but Egypt had a goal from Mohamed Abdel-Moneam disallowed for offside after a VAR review.

Marmoush then equalized in the 69th minute after capitalizing on a backpass mistake from Iñaki Williams.

However, Kudus quickly responded, with a shot that took a slight deflection off Abdel-Moneam and found the back of the net.

In the 72nd minute, another defensive error, this time from Osman Bukari, allowed Mostafa Mohamed to score the equalizer for Egypt, assisted by second-half substitute Mahmoud 'Trezeguet,' who made a significant impact on the game.

In their next matches on Monday, Egypt will face Cape Verde, while Ghana will take on Mozambique.

Midfielder Emam Ashour nearly snatched victory  for the Pharaohs at the death but his curling attempt was held well by Ghana keeper Ofori

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