A day of surprises unfolded at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast as powerhouses Nigeria and Egypt were held to draws, while Ghana experienced a late defeat against Cape Verde. Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea left coach Jose Peseiro disappointed, expressing the team's need to improve finishing.
Egypt narrowly escaped a historic defeat against Mozambique with Mo Salah's 97th-minute penalty securing a 2-2 draw. Mozambique, seconds away from a major upset, showcased their potential, leaving coach Conde Chiquinho determined to work harder for future success.
In contrast, Ghana faced a setback as they succumbed to a late goal, losing 2-1 to Cape Verde and raising concerns about repeating their early exit from the previous tournament. Ghana's Alexander Djiku expressed disappointment, emphasizing the team's struggle to capitalize on chances.
Coach Chris Hughton echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the impact of the conceded goal and expressing the team's determination to avoid a repeat of their first-round exit in the last Afcon.
As the tournament unfolds, Egypt's coach Rui Vitoria anticipates a challenging clash against Ghana, emphasizing the need to reduce defensive lapses. Despite salvaging a draw, Egypt's performance against Mozambique raised tactical concerns. The twists and turns in the early matches set the stage for an unpredictable and highly competitive Africa Cup of Nations.
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