Soccer

Mohamed Salah rescues draw for Egypt with stoppage-time penalty

African Cup of Nations: Victor Osimhen hits and misses as Nigeria held by Equatorial Guinea

Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah runs with the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B match against Mozambique at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah runs with the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B match against Mozambique at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
Sun Jan 14 2024 - 19:48
Egypt 2 Mozambique 2

Mohamed Salah scored a stoppage-time penalty as Egypt salvaged a 2-2 draw with Mozambique in their opening Africa Cup of Nations game.

The seven-time Afcon champions took an early lead through Mostafa Mohamed, only for Mozambique to turn the game on its head with two goals in four second-half minutes through Witi and Clesio.

But Mozambique’s hopes of a historic win were crushed seven minutes into added time when Salah converted from the spot after a VAR check ruled there had been a foul on Mohamed.

Egypt were straight out of the blocks and went ahead just two minutes in. A cross found Salah and the Liverpool forward’s mis-hit his shot allowed Mohamed to pounce on the ball, neatly turning around Edmilson Dove and firing low into the bottom corner.

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They nearly doubled their lead when Salah broke from a Mozambique attack and threaded the ball to Mohamed, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper.

Witi went close when he sliced his shot wide before Egypt had another great chance to extend advantage lead as Mahmoud Trezeguet smashed the ball off the post.

Mohamed El Shenawy had to react following a poor attempted clearance from Mohamed Hamdy, the Pharaohs goalkeeper clawing the ball over the bar to maintain his side’s lead.

Mozambique continued to push in the second half, though, and got their reward in the 55th minute when Domingos Macandza’s cross picked out Witi, who headed into the bottom corner, with El Shenawy getting a hand to the ball but unable to keep it out.

The Mambas then took the lead three minutes later when, after a good team move, Clesio evaded Ahmed Hegazi’s tackle and burst through the middle before coolly slotting past El Shenawy.

Zizo blasted wide for Egypt from outside the box and they continued to push for the equaliser, Hamdy Fathy flicking the ball past the post before an unmarked Salah sliced wide.

And Mozambique’s hopes of a famous triumph were finally dashed deep into stoppage-time, when Egypt were awarded a late penalty following a VAR check for a foul on Mohamed and Salah fired home from the spot.

Nigeria 1 Equatorial Guinea 1

Victor Osimhen scored a first-half equaliser but wasteful Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group A opener with Equatorial Guinea in a steamy Abidjan on Sunday, unable to turn their pressure into three points.

Against the run of play, Iban Salvador netted a surprise opener for Equatorial Guinea with a well-worked goal, but they lead for only two minutes before Napoli forward Osimhen headed Nigeria level.

The Super Eagles side dominated thereafter but found Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono in fine form as he made several fine saves – aided by some poor finishing.

The match was a slow burner, but burst into life with two goals in as many minutes towards the end of the first half.

After Nigeria’s Zaidu Sanusi missed an open goal at the back post – a cross from the right eluded everyone and fell kindly to him, but he skewed his shot high and wide with the goal gaping – Equatorial Guinea took the lead on 36 minutes with a fine finish from Salvador.

Some hesitant defending saw Nigeria fail to clear the ball and when José Machín teed-up Salvador 18 yards from goal, he passed a composed finish into the bottom corner.

But the lead lasted only two minutes as Nigeria hit back almost immediately. Ademola Lookman hung up a cross from the left to the back post, leaving the unmarked Osimhen with the simplest of headed finishes to score his 21st international goal.

Moses Simon then forced a good low save from Owono when his shot looked destined for the bottom corner as the teams went to the break at 1-1.

On the resumption, Sanusi spurned another superb chance for Nigeria, firing straight at the goalkeeper, before Osimhen, in on goal, rolled wide of the near post with the keeper moving towards the far.

The draw will be viewed as two points dropped for the Super Eagles, who have faced recent stinging criticism after 1-1 draws with tiny Lesotho and Zimbabwe in their November World Cup qualifiers. They meet Ivory Coast next, while Equatorial Guinea face Guinea-Bissau. – Guardian

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