Egypt lost Mohamed Salah to injury but twice fought back to draw 2-2 with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The stadium Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny came back to life when, just 53 seconds after Egypt’s star man Salah had trudged off with an apparent hamstring issue, the seven-time AFCON champions fell behind to Mohamed Kudus’ stunning opener.
The toughness of the first made way for a frantic second half with 3 goals within the space of 5 minutes and 10 seconds. Omar scored in the 69th minute with a ravishing assist from Inaki only for Kudus to double his tally 2 minutes after.
Ghana were only able to hold onto their lead for another three minutes, with Mostafa Mohamed tucking home from Trezeguet’s cutback to haul Egypt level once more, though the Pharaohs got lucky when Iddrisu Baba headed wide of a gaping goal in stoppage time.
Salah’s injury came in innocuous fashion – Egypt’s captain dropping to the turf and ripping off his armband in the 45th minute, immediately signalling that he needed to go off and holding his left hamstring.
Egypt’s frustration was swiftly compounded as Kudus found a way through three defenders before arrowing in a wonderful left-footed finish from the edge of the box.
Yet a prolonged spell of Egypt pressure, in which the Pharaohs had a goal disallowed for offside, finally told when Williams inadvertently played in Marmoush, who coolly rounded Richard Ofori before slotting in. That goal sparked a chaotic five-minute spell. First, Kudus’ low effort fooled Mohamed El Shenawy after taking a slight deflection, only for Egypt to capitalise on more shambolic Ghana defending as Trezeguet got to the line and supplied Mohamed with a simple finish.
Ofori’s save from Emam Ashour’s attempt paved the way for one final Ghana push, and Baba should have won it when he latched onto an in swinging corner, only to put his header wide, with the result leaving the Black Stars on a point and Egypt on two heading into their final Group A matches.