Egypt Qualify For AFCON Round Of 16 After Crazy Group B Finale
Egypt qualified for the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations following a 2-2 draw with Cape Verde in their final game in Group B.
Gilson Tavares put Cape Verde 1-0 up late in the first half before substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet equalized for Egypt on 50 minutes.
Trezeguet then set up Mostafa Mohamed for a brilliant goal in the third minute of added time.
Mohamed controlled a long pass before lobbing the Cape Verde keeper from 15 yards.
A VAR review was called to check whether Mohamed had handled the ball but his goal was eventually given the green light.
However, the drama was not over.
Cape Verde hit back in the ninth minute of added time courtesy of Bryan Teixeira.
Egypt's players looked dejected. Many feared that their AFCON journey could be over.
But two late goals in the other game in Group B ultimately meant that a draw was enough to see Egypt progress in second place.
Injured Egypt captain Mo Salah joined his teammates on the field to celebrate after the final whistle was blown.
Highlights: Cape Verde 2-2 Egypt
An action shot taken during Egypt's 2-2 draw with Cape Verde at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday
IMAGO/Newscom World/Kim Price
Ghana had led Mozambique 2-0 in the other game - thanks to two Jordan Ayew penalties - before conceding twice in added time.
A Geny Catamo spot-kick followed by a Reinildo Mandava header from a corner saw Mozambique earn a 2-2 draw.
Highlights: Mozambique 2-2 Ghana
Cape Verde won the group with seven points, ahead of Egypt with three.
Ghana came third with two points and a goal difference of minus-one.
Mozambique finished last, also with two points.
AFCON Group B Final Standings
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Cape Verde | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
2. Egypt | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
3. Ghana | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
4. Mozambique | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 2 |
Ghana were not officially eliminated on Monday. The four third-placed teams with the best records in the group stage will qualify for the last 16.
However, two points is unlikely to be enough to progress.
Ghana's late collapse was good news for the Ivory Coast, who had lost 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea earlier in the day.
That shock result saw the tournament hosts finish third in Group A - behind Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria - with three points and a minus-three goal difference.
