AFCON 2023: Egypt defeated Ghana 2-2 after making two comebacks.

Egypt, who lost captain Mohamed Salah to injury in the first half of the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, twice overcame deficits to secure a 2-2 draw with Ghana.

Both goals for Ghana were scored by Mohammed Kudus, who scored the first from 20 meters out shortly after Salah was sent off in the Group B match at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.

Midway through the second half, Omar Marmoush took advantage of a mistake to equalize for Egypt; however, Kudus immediately struck again to give Ghana the lead again.

Mostafa Mohamed leveled the score on the 74th minute, leaving Ghana with just one point from two games, leaving the Black Stars to lament yet another error.

After two consecutive draws, Egypt is only one point ahead of schedule, but their main worry will be Salah’s health since his stoppage-time penalty had given them a 2-2 draw with Mozambique.

Through 11 AFCON matches, Ghana has only won one thus far. The tournament’s smallest country, Cape Verde, shocked them with a 2-1 victory in their opening match. With a win over Mozambique on Friday, they can secure a berth in the last sixteen and top group.

Because he knew that another defeat would mean that Ghana would be looking at a second straight first-round departure, Chris Hughton made three changes to his team, recalling Kudus and Spain-born striker Inaki Williams.

The past four AFCON meetings between the countries had yielded just five goals, a trend that looked set to continue in a quiet first half in which Emam Ashour’s 43rd-minute shot was the first on target.

Salah goes off

However, Egypt lost their lucky man Salah a little while after, and they nearly instantly fell behind.

As Ghana counterattacked, the Liverpool forward collapsed to the turf, clutching the back of his left leg and accepting that, at the very least, his night was done.

Kudus, Ghana’s star player, took center stage as Egypt, still suffering from the loss of Salah, moved the ball away from a few players and fired a left-footed drive into the near corner.

The offensive midfielder for West Ham was injured and missed the team’s loss to Cape Verde, but he showed here how important he is to the Black Stars’ dwindling chances of winning a fifth AFCON championship, 42 years after they last did.

Early in the second half, Kudus curled a shot into the earth and narrowly missed the crossbar. Ahmed Hegazi, who had taken over Salah’s armband, then saw a goal disallowed for offside.

Richard Ofori was forced to tip over a stinging shot by Marmoush, but Egypt equalized on 69 minutes after Ghana made a mistake.

Williams misplayed his backpass, allowing Marmoush to seize the opportunity and finish with a neat move as he rounded Ofori.

Two minutes later, Kudus gave Ghana the lead once more after receiving a pass from Denis Odoi in the area. His strike caught Mohamed Abdelmonem off guard and fooled Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

Once again, though, Ghana was the architect of their own demise.

The ball was pulled back for Mohamed to direct between Ofori’s legs by Mahmoud Trezequet after substitute Osman Bukari was caught in possession of the ball within his own box.

Ashour came dangerously close to winning at the last second, but Ofori stopped his curling attempt, saving Ghana from further defeat and keeping them in the running for the knockout stage.