The Pharaohs of Egypt and the Black Stars of Ghana on Thursday in Abidjan played to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, had a brace on return from injury.
Ghana went ahead twice, late in the first half and in the second half, but we’re pegged back twice after individual errors by Inaki Williams and Osman Bukari late in the second half
The game was played in front of a 20,808 crowd at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.
Kudus, just back from injury, dazzled with his all round play, wriggling away from Mohamed ELneny and Mohamed Fathy outside the Egypt box before firing home a long range shot from a Salid Abdul Samed pass.
The goal came in the third minute of added time in the first half and barely a minute after Liverpool star winger Mohamed Salah went off through injury.
Before that, the Egyptians had dominated possession without threatening Ghana goalie Richard Ofori’s goal.
Rui Vitoria, the Pharaohs coach, speaking after the match, said he was still confident in his boys.
Vitoria said: “I have full confidence in my team.
“I saw men this evening who fought to the end, only victory eluded us.
“We showed great qualities this evening against a revitalised Ghana.
“The players applied our instructions perfectly.
“There was room to win the match.”
On his part, Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton, expressed his frustrations after the match.
Hughton said: “We will continue to fight.
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“It is true that at the moment there is a lot of frustration in the locker room.
“Our team deserved more, but football is like that.
“It’s frustrating.
“In a similar performance, we would surely have won.
“Two errors cost us the match.
“We didn’t take this opportunity to take the three points.”