Senegal beat Ghana 2-1 in Nations Cup thriller

Published January 20, 2015
MONGOMO: Mame Biram Diouf (R) of Senegal challenges Ghana’s Daniel Amartey during their 
African Cup of Nations match on Monday.—Reuters
MONGOMO: Mame Biram Diouf (R) of Senegal challenges Ghana’s Daniel Amartey during their African Cup of Nations match on Monday.—Reuters

MONGOMO: Senegal beat Ghana 2-1 in an electrifying African Cup of Nations Group C opener after substitute Moussa Sow scored a dramatic late winner to complete his team’s comeback on Monday.

Sow drilled in a low shot with almost the last kick of the game in added time after Mame Biram Diouf had cancelled out Andrew Ayew’s first-half penalty for Ghana.

The result was a sour start for former Chelsea boss Avram Grant in his first match in charge of Ghana, with the quadruple former winners now under pressure to advance from the 16-nation tournament’s toughest group.

On Sunday, Cape Verde Islands delivered a display of some fortitude to come from behind to hold Tunisia to a 1-1 draw.

The tiny island archipelago, whose giant killing run over the last three years has been one of the highlights of the African game, had chances to beat their highly rated opponents but were pleased to secure a point.

“We wanted to win but we have to remember we came from one down so I think it was a good result at the end of the day,” said Cape Verde coach Rui Aguas.

Heldon equalised from the penalty spot in the 77th minute, seven minutes after Tunisia had broken the deadlock with a goal from Mohamed Ali Moncer.

Cape Verde might have taken a lead after two minutes when Fernando Varela struck the woodwork and there were two good chances for Kuca as they outshone Tunisia in the first half.

But the north Africans, competing at a 17th Nations Cup finals, showed their experience with a patient approach that finally brought reward when Jamal Saihi and Ali Maaloul set up Moncer to tuck the ball away at the back post.

Published in Dawn January 20th , 2015

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