VIDEO | AFCON 2023 Highlights: Cape Verde vs Egypt
Egypt and Cape Verde treated us to a tightly contested and emotionally charged match, where Cape Verde couldn't secure a clean sweep of victories in Group B, and Egypt advanced to the next stage without Salah, also without winning a match in the group stage.
The first half of this thrilling encounter was characterized by a notable lack of dominance from both sides, as goal-scoring opportunities were evenly matched, with constant attacks from both teams requiring interventions from Vózinha (Cape Verde) and Elshenawy (Egypt) to save their respective teams.
The draw persisted until the end of the first half, thanks to a goal from Gilson Tavares, who controlled the ball in the penalty area and, after a half-turn, sent the ball into the net with his left foot, beating the in-form Elshenawy.
The second half of the match was partially dominated by Egypt, as with each passing minute on the clock, the balance tilted in favor of the Pharaohs, who, driven by the defeat and the imminent victory of Ghana, took control of the game.
Egypt's intensity paid off in the 50th minute, with a goal from Trézéget after an extraordinary combination inside the box with Ahmed Hegazy, leaving the defense stranded and restoring hope for Egypt to win the match. The Pharaohs continued their quest for victory, which would give them more opportunities to advance to the next round, and it seemed like Egypt was taking the victory in the final stretch of the match, thanks to an extraordinary play from Mostafa Mohamed.
However, surprises were still in store, as Bryan Teixeira found the ball in the heart of the box after a poor clearance from Elshenawy and scored the equalizing goal with his right foot, with the defense defeated, in one of the best matches of this AFCON 2023 group stage.
With this incredible result, Cape Verde advances as the group leader, and Egypt achieves a miracle, progressing as the group runner-up.
