In a thrilling turn of events at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Abidjan, the Cape Verde Islands secured a surprising 2-1 victory against four-time champions Ghana, marking another day of unexpected results on Sunday.
Dramatic Winner by Rodrigues
The Cape Verdean side, led by Garry Rodrigues, delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Ghana, causing a major upset in Group B. Rodrigues’s decisive goal sealed the fate of the match, leaving football fans in awe of the unexpected outcome.
Day of Surprises Unfolds
This match was the third of the day in Abidjan, following a draw between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Group A and Egypt’s last-gasp penalty that salvaged a draw against Mozambique in the opening Group B fixture at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.
Cape Verde Takes the Lead
Cape Verde took an early lead in the 17th minute when Garry Rodrigues’s shot was parried by Ghana’s goalkeeper, Richard Ofori. The rebound fell to Jamiro Monteiro, who calmly slotted the ball home from close range, putting Cape Verde in the lead.
VAR Drama Denies Ghana
Ghana thought they had equalized just before halftime when Majeed Ashimeru netted a powerful shot. However, after a VAR check, the goal was disallowed due to Ransford Konigsdorffer’s offside position, interfering with the goalkeeper’s line of sight.
Ghana Finds Parity
In the 56th minute, Ghana managed to level the score, with Alexander Djiku heading home from Jordan Ayew’s corner. The islanders’ defense struggled to clear the ball, allowing Djiku to capitalize on the opportunity.
Cape Verde’s Dominance
Despite Ghana’s efforts, chances repeatedly favored Cape Verde. Djiku made a crucial goal-line clearance, and Rodrigues was denied twice in the final 10 minutes. The breakthrough finally came in stoppage time, with Rodrigues capitalizing on a defensive lapse to secure Cape Verde’s victory.
Veteran Ayew’s Record
Ghana’s veteran player, Dede Ayew, entered the game with 28 minutes left, marking his participation in his eighth Cup of Nations tournament. This achievement equals the record held by Cameroon’s Rigobert Song and Egyptian Ahmed Hassan.
Next Matches
Ghana is set to face Egypt in their upcoming match on Thursday, while Cape Verde will take on Mozambique on Friday, both clashes to be held at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.
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Credit: Toby Davis