A dramatic injury-time winner from substitute Garry Rodrigues gave Cape Verde a shock 2-1 victory over four-time champions Ghana, as the latter’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, began with a demoralising defeat.
Seeking to make amends after the embarrassment of crashing out in the group stage three years ago, Ghana were expected to ease past a Cape Verde side appearing at just their fourth AFCON. However, the underdogs controlled much of the first half, taking a deserved lead when Jamiro Monteiro broke the deadlock. Ghana briefly thought they had equalised before half-time courtesy of Majeed Ashimeru’s thunderbolt, only for it to be disallowed for offside.
The second period saw Ghana draw level through Alexander Djiku’s bundled effort from a set piece, giving hope that a comeback was on. Still, Cape Verde remained dangerous, twice denied by goal-line clearances from Djiku. As the game entered added time, calamity struck for Ghana – a defensive mix-up allowing Rodrigues to sneak in at the back post and prod the ball home.
The result means Cape Verde will be confident of qualifying from Group C for the third time, having also done so in 2013 and 2021. Meanwhile, Ghana’s hopes of a first AFCON triumph in over 40 years are now on the brink, with giants Egypt awaiting them next.
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