Cape Verde and Egypt secured their places in the Round of 16 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire on Monday evening following a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.
A thrilling match unfolded as Bryan Teixeira's dramatic equalizer in the dying minutes of stoppage time levelled what seemed to be a hard-fought victory for the Pharaohs.
The Blue Sharks had initially taken the lead in the 45th minute, positioning themselves for a potentially historic full haul of points in Group B.
However, Mahmoud Trezeguet levelled the score five minutes into the second half with a composed finish in the box.
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Mostafa Mohamed then showcased his form by artistically chesting down a difficult ball and lobbing it over the oncoming goalkeeper, sending Egyptian supporters into a frenzy and putting the Pharaohs in the lead.
Just as the former champions appeared set for victory, Bryan Teixeira capitalized on a defensive error, firing the ball into the net and salvaging a point for Cape Verde.
The result secured Cape Verde's top spot in Group B, followed by Egypt, ensuring both teams advanced to the Round of 16.
Post-match reactions included comments from both coaches:
Bubista, Cape Verde Coach, expressed confidence and ambition for his team, stating, “The objective is clear. We are aiming for the last four of this competition. We are showing the world that we will have to count Cape Verde in this AFCON as one of the best-performing teams. No matter who our opponent is, we are not afraid of anyone, and we will do everything to achieve this goal.”
Rui Vitoria, Egypt Coach, acknowledged the entertaining nature of the game, saying, “We just saw a great game tonight. From the actions on both sides, the spectators got their money's worth. We have qualified, and that is a good thing. Now we will have to concentrate on erasing our shortcomings and work hard in preparation for the next round.”
The 2-2 draw highlighted the competitive nature of the tournament, with Cape Verde and Egypt now setting their sights on further success in the knockout stages.