Marmoush's Egypt advance to knockouts, Königsdörffer's Ghana left with little hope
Omar Marmoush's Egyptian national team are through to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Round-of-16 despite drawing all three of their group stage matches. A 2-2 draw against Cape Verde proves sufficient for the Pharaohs to advance in second place out of Group B.
In the other concurrent kickoff on the final evening of Group B action, Mozambique and Ghana also drew 2-2. The result helps neither side. CfR Pforzheim's Stanley Ratifo (Mozambique) is headed home. Hamburger SV's Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer is most likely following him.
Once again without the injury Mohamed Salah, Africa's record continental champions have managed to advance to the 2023 AFCON knockouts despite drawing all three of their group stage fixtures. The Pharaohs split the difference against Mozambique in their opening match, then had to fight hard to draw Ghana in their second. Rui Vitória's team completed their third consecutive 2-2 draw against Cape Verde on Monday evening. The results were ultimately sufficient to help them advance out of their group in second place.
In the other concurrent kickoff on the final evening of Group B action, Mozambique and Ghana also drew 2-2. The result helps neither side. CfR Pforzheim's Stanley Ratifo (Mozambique) is headed home. Hamburger SV's Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer is most likely following him.
Egypt's Bundesliga representative Omar Marmoush of Eintracht Frankfurt started for the second straight match, again impressing with his involvement in the attack. The 24-year-old recorded two shots on target and very nearly got on the score-sheet with a fine set-up of a Trezeguet effort in the 46th. Marmoush became the first Bundesliga representative to score at the tournament last Thursday. Congo DR attacker Silas of VfB Stuttgart became the second last night.
Marmoush's shift on this particular evening ended before the fireworks really got going. The SGE professional exited proceedings in the 83rd with the score deadlocked at 1-1. The two sides traded goals once again in second half injury time. The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde - who had opened the scoring in the first half - solidified first-place in the group with a dramatic late equalizer at 90+9. The former Stuttgart and Wolfsburg professional did incur his first booking of the tournament.
Further north in the city of Abidjan proper, the Group's concurrent kickoff also ended in a 2-2 scoreline. German football's fifth tier representative at the AFCON - Mozambique forward Stanley Ratifo of CfR Pforzheim - began the game on the bench after starting the first two fixtures. The 29-year-old former Köln academy man did come off the bench for an 18-minute shift near the end. Ratifo's Mamba's effectively ended Ghana's hopes of avoiding group stage elimination in their second consecutive AFCON.
Two Jordan Ayew converted penalties gave the Black Stars a 2-0 lead heading into second half injury time. Unfortunately, elder Ayew brother André conceded a handball penalty in the 90th. Mozambique converted at 90+1 and added an equalizer at 90+4. Chris Hughton's "Gold Coast Playaz" never really managed to recover from an upset loss against Cape Verde in their opening match. German club representative Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer, after a poor performance in the opener, was withheld from the match-day squad again.
While not technically eliminated from the tournament, the Black Stars will need a great deal of assistance to punch through as one of the third-placed teams. Only a draw between Gambia and Cameroon on Tuesday and a win for Morocco over Zambia on Wednesday - with sufficient goal-differential which case the goal difference could even play a role - will see them through. While not technically eliminated from the tournament, the Black Stars will need a great deal of assistance to punch through as one of the third-placed teams.
Only a draw between Gambia and Cameroon on Tuesday and a win for Morocco over Zambia on Wednesday - with sufficient goal-differential which case the goal difference could even play a role - will see them through. Hosts Cote d'Ivoire can take some solace in the manner in which this group wrapped up. Their slim hopes of continuing a boosted slightly by Ghana's fall.