Afcon Summary: Ivory Coast Nears Exit After Equatorial Guinea’s Shock Win, Ghana Also Faces Elimination

The Africa Cup of Nations took surprising turns as hosts Ivory Coast are on the brink of elimination following a shocking 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea. Emilio Nsue’s two goals, along with strikes from Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla, left Ivory Coast with a slim chance of qualifying. Equatorial Guinea secured an unexpected group win, finishing ahead of three-time champions Nigeria, who beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 with an own goal by Opa Sanganté.

Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset described the defeat as a “nightmare,” emphasizing the importance of efficiency in football. Despite dominating first-half chances, Ivory Coast struggled in front of goal, while Equatorial Guinea capitalized on counter-attacks and set pieces to secure a historic victory.

Ghana is also on the verge of missing the last 16 after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Mozambique, conceding two stoppage-time goals. Jordan Ayew’s penalties initially seemed to secure Ghana’s advancement, but Geny Catamo and Reinildo Mandava’s late goals changed the scenario. Egypt, despite a 2-2 draw with Cape Verde, secured a spot in the last 16, edging out Ghana in Group B.

Mohamed Salah, who watched Egypt’s match from the stands, witnessed a breathless draw that saw Trézéguet and Mostafa Mohamed score crucial goals for Egypt. Despite conceding a late equalizer, Egypt held on to second place in the group, benefiting from Ghana’s draw with Mozambique. The tournament continues with intense competition and unexpected outcomes shaping the path to the knockout stage.