Underdogs shine as ex-champions struggle at Cup of Nations

Sunday at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations proved to be the first day of the underdogs at the tournament.

It would have taken a brave tipster to have predicted that Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique and Cape Verde would all surprise former champions in their first group-stage matches.

But after hosts Ivory Coast secured a routine 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the opening match on Saturday, the trio of less-storied footballing nations shook up expectations with impressive performances that suggested they can at least advance from tough groups.

Whether it was a show of the competitive nature of the 34th edition of Afcon or a case of the more high-profile teams being slow out of the blocks against hugely motivated opponents, the results have raised the intrigue and excitement levels around the tournament, as well as averaging a crowd-pleasing three goals a game on the second day of action.

Mozambique ‘not satisfied’ after Salah saves Egypt

Having qualified for their first Afcon since 2010, Mozambique’s Fifa ranking of 111th put them 78 places behind an Egypt side who were beaten on penalties in the final in 2021 and can call upon players of the pedigree of Liverpool top scorer Mohamed Salah and former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet.

Egypt took a second-minute lead and hit a post during a first half in which Chiquinho Conde’s underdogs did not have a shot on target - only for a sensational second-half turnaround, including two goals in four minutes, to give Mozambique the lead until the 97th minute, when Salah’s spot-kick rescued a 2-2 draw for the seven-time winners.

“We were so close,” said Conde, ruing the added-time leveller by the most successful team in Afcon history. “It is up to us to work harder so that this does not happen again.

“The opening goal did not disturb our plan — it actually motivated us to play even harder. We are sad and that is a good thing because we are not satisfied with what we got today.”

Egypt fans outside the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium kept their cool, having seen their team lose their opener to Nigeria in 2021, only to go on to reach the final.

“Salah and Trezeguet were not at full power but we normally start like this — it is not new for us,” one supporter told BBC Sport Africa.

“It happened last time and we went to the final. We have to trust our team. That was not the Salah we know but we think that he will come good next time.”

Ghana defeat ‘doesn’t feel good’

The last of Ghana’s four Afcon wins was in 1982 but those triumphs, allied with runs to the semi-finals in 2012, 2013 and 2017 plus the final in 2015, mean they are considered one of the competition’s heavyweights.

The Black Stars had been on a poor run of form and were only ranked 12 places above Cape Verde, but the manner of their defeat has led to fears they will repeat their group-stage exit in 2021, when they claimed a solitary point.

The Blue Sharks deservedly took the lead as part of a spell of early dominance, then recovered from conceding a second-half equaliser to rally late on and win 2-1 through Garry Rodrigues’ 92nd-minute strike.

Cape Verde upset Ghana in opener

“We want to show that we are small but we have the [ability] to take on all the biggest teams in Africa,” said manager Bubista, calling Ghana a “great” team.

“We knew we were able to take advantage of attacking transitions.”

Former Ghana striker Kwesi Appiah lamented the “sloppy” defending which gifted Cape Verde their winner.

“Our expectations do not match the reality,” Appiah told World Football at Afcon.

“It is a shock for us really because we should be taking at least a point and moving on.

“It just doesn’t sit right for me and it just doesn’t feel good.”

Nigeria ‘lacking togetherness’

Equatorial Guinea beat Algeria on their way to the quarter-finals in 2021, when they were eliminated by eventual champions Senegal.

This time around, they took the lead with their only shot on target against a Nigeria side ranked 46 places above them and who were indebted to Victor Osimhen’s quick-fire equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Efe Ambrose, who won Afcon 2013 with Nigeria, believes his country’s uninspired display was the mark of a team requiring “one or two years” to gel.

Osimhen earns Nigeria point against Equatorial Guinea

“You have to play first as a team — it is not about individuals,” the defender said. “I think that is what we are lacking right now - that team, that togetherness. I don’t think that it’s not there, but it is not up to where it should be.

“Individuals will have the talent, they have everything but it is about how to assemble the right players with quality together, to work together as one.”

Equatorial Guinea manager Juan Micha had wanted more but felt his team deserved their point.

“We came here to win for our fans,” he added, predicting his side will improve when they play Guinea-Bissau on Thursday. “Our mission is not complete — we still have a lot to do.”