By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (January 14^th 2024)

Thunder

The second day of la Côte d’Ivoire’s 34^th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was a day of shocks, or more accurately proof that most cannot be labelled minnows any more. Equatorial Guinea held Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw, a last gasp Mohamed Salah penalty enabled Egypt to claim a point in the 2-2 draw, just avoiding a humiliating defeat to Mozambique and Ghana fell to a surprise 1-2 defeat to Cape Verde

Equatoria; Guinea’s best ever run in AFCON came in 2015 – a tournament they had no right to be present at due to being disqualified during qualification. Morocco’s decision to withdraw from hosting earned National Thunder a reprieve. They won the right to host and reached the semi-final. Incredibly, they avoided a deserved ban for shameful scenes while Ghana was beating them in the semi-final.

The Elephants, however, have pleasant memories of Equatorial Guinea as they beat Ghana on penalties to claim their second title – they won their first against Ghana on penalties too in 1992. But while National Thunder has a controversial past, they are here on merit and in form too – they were unbeaten in their last three matches before facing Nigeria in tonight’s match.

While the quality of their opponents was not the highest quality, it still meant they should not be underestimated.

Africa’s Player of the Year Victor Osimhen had several chances, but only netted once – a close range header assisted by Ademola Lookman to bring Nigeria level, two minutes after Ivan Salvador had swept José Machin’s assist in to give National Thunder a shock lead. Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea had to settle for a point, which left Guinea-Bissau rooted to the bottom of Group A, while the hosts, la Côte d’Ivoire top the group.

The Pharaohs Scrape By

Mostafa Mohamed gave Egypt the lead after just two minutes from Salah’s assist, but three second half minutes saw the match turned on its head as Mozambique’s Witiness Chimoio João Quembo, known as Witi, drew the Mambas level with a header from Domingos Macandza’s cross after 55 minutes. A few minutes later a famous upset was on the cards as Guima (Ricardo Martins Guimarães) supplied Clesio Bauque to shoot past Mohamed El-Shenawy to give Mozambique the lead. They held on until the final whistle beckoned.

In added time Macandza’s foul on Mostafa Mohamed gave Egypt’s skipper, Salah the opportunity to spare Egypt’s blushes – he did so. It had been a close shave for the 33^rd edition’s beaten finalists.

While the draws against more fancied opponents may have been unexpected, the four times winners of AFCON, Ghana, was humbled by Cape Verde. The winning goal by Dutch-born Garry Rodriges was simplicity itself, a tap-in from an assist provided by Gilson Tavares, but it sent shockwaves through Group B and AFCON itself. His shot after 17 minutes had been parried by Ghana’s keeper Richard Ofori, only for Jarmiro Monteiro to snaffle the rebound to give the Blue Sharks the lead. Jordan Ayew’s corner provided the opportunity for Alexander Djiku to head in the equaliser, but Chris Hughton would see his team tumble to the first shock of this edition of AFCON.