The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has come with debilitating shocks as underdogs are wrestling the favourites to the ground in the ongoing continental soccer fiesta.
Garry Rodrigues’ stoppage time goal gave the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde all three points against the Black Stars of Ghana on Sunday in their AFCON Group B opener.
The Blue Sharks had gone ahead in the first half thanks to a Jamiro Monteiro’s goal and took their lead into halftime.
Alexander Djiku, however, pulled an equaliser in the 56th minute to revive hopes for the Black Stars of Ghana.
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And when the game was looking to end in a stalemate, Rodrigues stepped up to the plate to score a late winner that takes Cape Verde to the top of Group B.
Host nation Ivory Coast saw off Guinea-Bissau to get the tournament going before Nigeria were held to a draw by Equatorial Guinea and Mozambique were denied a first-ever AFCON win by Mohamed Salah’s late penalty for Egypt.
Monday sees defending champions Senegal get their tournament underway along with Algeria and Cameroon.
