Seven-time champions of the Africa Cup of Nations Egypt were held to a pulsating 2-2 draw by the Black Stars of Ghana at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadiumin Abidjan on Thursday.
The Egyptians came from behind twice to clinch one point from the game.
It was the second draw for the Pharaohs in their campaign for an eighth title after they were held by the same scoreline in the first match against Mozambique.
Ghana’s line-up was boosted by the return of midfield lynchpin Mohammed Kudus, who scored both goals for the Black Stars.
He was also named the Man of the Match.
With the Egyptians dominating play in the first few minutes of the game despite the seeming quietude of Captain Mohamed Salah, the Black Stars took advantage of his injury to open the score.
The Egyptian talisman went down to the pitch with a few minutes to the break and that immediately shifted the spotlight to Kudus, who found his low strike beating Mohamed El Shenawy in post.
The @premierleague is following with keen interest!
🇪🇬🇬ðŸ‡#OnuaSports #OnuaAFCON #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/gzT1HnAyOY
— #OnuaSports (@OnuaSports) January 18, 2024
From the break, the Pharaohs took advantage of a miscalculated back pass by Iñaki Williams to draw level.
The Ghanaians, however, went into the lead again a few minutes afterwards when Denis Odoi found Kudus in the Egyptian goal area and his relatively feeble shot beat El Shenawy again, this time the Al Ahly goalie complaining of being blocked by his own defence.
But the Egyptians also used strength and power to dispossess Osman Bukari in his own half and Richard Ofori was beaten for the second time in the game.
The match ended 2-2.
Ghana will need a win in their final group game against Mozambique on Monday while the Egyptians will also need same result to guarantee qualification into the Round of 16.
The other group game between Os Mambas and Cape Verde will be played on Friday.
