2023 Africa Cup of Nations: 5 things we learned on Day 6 - It's getting tasty
The second round of games in Group A have thrown up all kinds of ramifications for the final round of matches on Day 10. It's shaping up to be a nail-biter in Group B as well, as Ghana's calamity defending cost them again.
Issued on:
Man of the moment
Emilio Nsue's name doesn't come to the fore when mention is made of star strikers at the tournament. But the Equatorial Guinea forward went into the record books as the first player to score a hat trick at the 2023 competition.
The 34-year-old, who plys his trade at CF Intercity in Spain's third division, is the first man to notch up a triple since Soufiane Alloudi pulled off the feat for Morocco in their 5-1 annihilation of Namibia in the 2008 tournament in Ghana.
Nsue, whose goals helped his side to a 4-2 win over Guinea Bissau and to top spot in Group A, also takes the accolade of becoming the oldest player to score three in a game.
Take and give
That José Peseiro quote, "God gives and God takes ... and maybe it's the time for God to give us something", has marked the review.
It came to mind when Emilio Nsue went off to celebrate his third strike against Guinea Bissau with the sprinkling of fans in the Alassane Outtara Stadium. While he was drinking in the adulation, he didn't notice that the goal had been refused for off-side. As Guinea Bissau set up for the free-kick, Nsue's teammates were shouting for him to get back into formation.
No sooner were they reconfigured than the video assistant referees overruled the linesman to award the goal. Back out of position to celebrate Nsue's exploit.
Labour of love
No one is doing more to maintain the agony than Egypt and Ghana.
Egypt have a princely tally of two points following a second 2-2 draw. First it was Mozambique, now Ghana. Egypt lost star striker Mo Salah to a hamstring injury just before half-time but their luck was in. Two defensive blunders allowed Egypt to level both times.
That's three mistakes at the back from Ghana who have a point from their two games. The rearguard frailties must be particularly galling for Ghana boss Chris Hughton, who operated as a very tidy left back for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Brentford in a 16-year playing career.
End of days
Chris Hughton's coaching career with Ghana could be drawing to a close.
"Our team deserved more," said Hughton after the stalemate with Egypt. "But football is like that. It's frustrating. Two errors cost us the match and we didn’t take this opportunity to take the three points."
Ghana will play Mozambique on Day 10 aware that only a win will be good enough to have a sniff a chance of moving into the next stage. It will be difficult to see Hughton surviving if they fail to progress.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more
Egypt boss Rui Vitoria hailed the fighting spirit of his charges who twice came from behind – albeit with lavish helpings of Ghanaian munificence – to draw 2-2 at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.
"I saw men this evening who fought to the end," said the Portuguese. "Only victory eluded us."
All we can say to that is viva Vitoria! Hang on, if Egypt don't befriend success pretty quickly, it's more likely to be Vitoria in memoriam.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe