AFCON 2023: Ghana exit after 2-2 draw with Mozambique

The result sees the four-time champions remain third in Group B, standing little chance of making it to the knock-out round as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Egypt drew 2-2 with Cape Verde in the other group game played concurrently.

The Black Stars needed to win at all cost to stand a chance of at least making it out of the group stage as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Chris Hughton made a single change to his starting line-up that drew 2:2 with Egypt, replacing Iñaki Williams with Joseph Paintsil.

This paid off as the Genk forward’s surge into the Mozambican penalty area resulted in the first of three penalties in the game.

Jordan Ayew elected himself to convert the spot kick, giving Ghana the needed start to such a crucial duel.

A handball in the penalty area from a Mohammed Kudus strike saw Libyan referee Mutaz Ibrahim award the Black Stars another penalty in the second half.

Jordan again scored.

But an inadvertent handball by substitute Andre Ayew saw the referee point to the spot much to the surprise of all.

But since this came in the closing stages of the game, the Ghanaian players barely protested.

However, the shocker came when the Mambas pressed on to force a corner kick off the gloves of Richard Ofori, who was beaten by a Reinildo header from the resultant set piece.

Dreams of a generation of players to get the country’s fifth title crashed as referee Mutaz Ibrahim brought proceedings to an end at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara D’Ebimpé, the same venue which had earlier in the day seen the hosts walloped 4-0 by lowly-ranked Equatorial Guinea.

The draw means Ghana have not won a match at the tournament since 2019, when they beat Guinea-Bissau in the final group game in Egypt.