Mozambique scored two stoppage-time goals to salvage a 2-2 draw against Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan.
Two penalties by Jordan Ayew, one in each half, made it look like the Black Stars would easily make it to the round of 16.
But Geny Catamo scored from the penalty spot in the 91st minute to make it 2-1. Then Reinildo Mandava’s header broke Ghana’s hearts.
Mozambique comes in last place in Group B, and Ghana needs a miracle to make it through as one of the four best third-place teams.
It is still mathematically possible for Chris Hughton’s team to make it to the next round, but they only have two points and need a lot of other teams to lose in order for that to happen.
If the four-time champions do lose, they shouldn’t be too upset because they looked tired the whole time against the Mambas and in their other games as well.
When the clock struck twelve minutes of extra time, the West Africans were already in second place, ahead of Egypt, who had tied Cape Verde in Monday night’s other Group B game.
The Pharaohs had a brief lead, but were tied 2-2 in the 99th minute. If the Black Stars hadn’t given up, Ghana would have won and Egypt would have been eliminated.
Ghana was lucky to have a 2-0 lead because neither of the penalties they were given looked like they should have been given.
Even though Mozambique made loud appeals, the video assistant referee didn’t see a reason to ask the match official to change the calls for Nanani’s faint contact on Joseph Paintsil and Mandava’s handball.
Ghana got off to a good start when they scored the first penalty, but they lost their focus after Crystal Palace forward Ayew put them ahead, and it was the Mambas who had the better chances in open play.
Joao Bonde missed a clear chance with a header, Lau King also missed with a nod, and Richard Ofori, the Ghana custodian, stopped Bruno Langa.
Mandava blocked Mohammed Kudus’ shot with an arm slightly away from his body, and Ayew scored to make it 2-0. It looked like the Black Stars would get away with their poor play.
If they had won, they would have almost certainly moved on, either as runners-up if Egypt didn’t win or as third-placed team with four full points.
But things turned around when Andre Ayew’s careless handball led to Catamo’s cool penalty. Three minutes later, Mandava’s looping header went over Ofori and into the top corner, which was hard to believe.
Hughton is under a lot of pressure as a manager because his team has only won one of their last eight games and is now in danger of losing in the group stage of the Afcon for the second year in a row.
Ghana only got one point in the 2021 tournament, and they haven’t done much better in Ivory Coast. They have now lost all seven of their Afcon finals games, which is a huge drop for the four-time champions.
Even though Mozambique finished last, they had a lot to be happy about because, like they did in their first game against Egypt, they showed they could play with one of the best teams on the continent.
After 15 tries, they still haven’t won an Afcon finals game, but the way they played here and against the Pharaohs (when only a late Mohamed Salah penalty kept them from winning), that wait might not last much longer.
But the team that hosted the game, Ivory Coast, may have come out on top. Their chances of moving on as one of the best third-placed teams look much better now than they did after being beaten 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea earlier on Monday.
Photo by Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
