GROUP A
Equatorial Guinea’s humiliation of the hosts in their last group game, winning 4-0 in Abidjan, rates as undoubtedly the biggest upset in tournament history; rarely has a host nation been so humbled, and never in such an emphatic fashion. The crowd’s bewilderment turned into downright anger, as the Ivory Coast players needed a police escort to take them off the pitch amid jeers from those who had remained.
It was an amazing turnabout in a matter of nine days from a bright start for the hosts when Seko Fofana scored after only four minutes of the tournament’s opening game against Guinea-Bissau. After a 2-0 win, where the Ivorians looked uninspired but were excused because of the hot conditions, they then lost 1-0 to Nigeria in their second game. The game was decided on a VAR penalty decision, but Nigeria won the tactical battle with an unusual five-man defence.
Equatorial Guinea, who were also giant-killers at the 2021 finals, sent early notice of their potential by holding the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw, then beating Guinea-Bissau 4-2 with Emilio Nsue’s hat-trick the first at the tournament since 2008. The 34-yearold Nsue scored two more in that final riveting victory against the hosts, leaving the Ivorians – who fired coach Jean-Louis Gasset after the defeat – having to wait three days before knowing they had also advanced as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
GROUP B
A dramatic last-gasp win over Ghana handed the tiny Cape Verde Islands a dream start to the tournament and they went on to snatch top place in the Abidjan-based group with two more impressive displays, belying the fact they were the smallest of the 24 competing countries. Bebe’s stunning long-range free-kick goal in the 3-0 thumping of Mozambique was one of several top-class finishes, and the Tubaroes Azul finished their fixtures by snatching an equaliser against Egypt deep into stoppage-time for a total of seven points.
Egypt came second in the group with three draws. The first against Mozambique proved most fortunate with a VAR penalty awarded to them in stoppage-time that Mohamed Salah converted for a 2-2 scoreline. But he pulled his hamstring in their next game, an exciting 2-2 draw with Ghana, and went back to Liverpool for treatment.
Ghana had to win their last game against Mozambique to be sure of advancing and were 2-0 up at the 90-minute mark. But then Andre Ayew gave away a penalty with an unfortunate handball to allow Geny Catamo to make it 2-1 from the spot, before goalkeeper Richard Ofori conceded a corner that Reinildo headed in from to force a draw and send Ghana home early. Head coach Chris Hughton was fired within days of the Black Stars’ demise.
GROUP C
Senegal were the only si
