PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Group B of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 14 to 22 January 2024.^[1] The group consisted of Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.^[2]

Cape Verde and Egypt as the top two teams advanced to the round of 16.

Teams

Draw position	Team	Zone	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Finals appearance	Last appearance	Previous best performance	FIFA Rankings
Draw position	Team	Zone	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Finals appearance	Last appearance	Previous best performance	October 2023^{[nb 1]}	December 2023
B1	Egypt	UNAF	Group D winners	14 June 2023	26th	2021	Winners (1957, 1959 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)	35	33
B2	Ghana	WAFU	Group E winners	7 September 2023	14th	2021	Winners (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)	60	61
B3	Cape Verde	WAFU	Group B runners-up	18 June 2023	4th	2021	Quarter-finals (2013)	71	73
B4	Mozambique	COSAFA	Group L runners-up	18 June 2023	4th	2021	Group stage (1986, 1996, 1998, 2010)	113	111

Notes

^ The rankings of October 2023 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Cape Verde	3	2	1	0	7	3	+4	7	Advance to knockout stage
2	Egypt	3	0	3	0	6	6	0	3	Advance to knockout stage
3	Ghana	3	0	2	1	5	6	−1	2^[a]
4	Mozambique	3	0	2	1	4	7	−3	2^[a]

Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:

^ ^a ^b Tied on head-to-head points. Overall goal difference: Ghana −1, Mozambique −3.

Matches

All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).

Egypt vs Mozambique

Egypt and Mozambique met for the sixth time, and this was also the fourth time both nations met in the Africa Cup of Nations. In the previous three meetings (1986, 1998 and 2010), Egypt won those respective matches 2-0. In addition, Egypt won both matches during the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Mostafa Mohamed got Egypt off to a dream start in the second minute with a thunderous shot after a missed opportunity by Mohamed Salah. However, Mozambique staged a strong fightback in the second half, first with Witi heading home in the 55th minute from a brilliant pinpoint cross by Domingos Macandza, before three minutes later Clésio put on a stunning turn of pace before slotting into the net. Nonetheless, Mozambique were cruelly denied a historic win by a foul from Macandza on Salah, and Salah converted the penalty off the left post for a draw in the seventh minute of added time.^[3]

14 January 2024

17:00

Egypt	2–2	Mozambique
Mostafa 2' Salah 90+7' (pen.)	Report	Witi 55' Clésio 58'

Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Attendance: 11,933^[4]

Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

Egypt

Mozambique


GK	16	Mohamed El Shenawy
RB	3	Mohamed Hany		66'
CB	24	Mohamed Abdelmonem	75'
CB	6	Ahmed Hegazi
LB	12	Mohamed Hamdy
CM	17	Mohamed Elneny		78'
CM	5	Hamdy Fathy
RW	10	Mohamed Salah (c)
AM	25	Zizo		84'
LW	7	Trézéguet		66'
CF	19	Mostafa Mohamed
Substitutions:
FW	22	Omar Marmoush		66'
DF	4	Omar Kamal		66'
MF	8	Emam Ashour		78'
FW	9	Koka		84'
Coach:
Rui Vitória


GK	1	Ernan Siluane
RB	14	Domingos
CB	17	Mexer
CB	8	Edmilson Dove
LB	15	Reinildo Mandava	62'
CM	21	Guima	72'	89'
CM	16	Alfons Amade
RW	19	Witi		81'
AM	7	Domingues (c)		46'
LW	18	Gildo		46'
CF	13	Stanley Ratifo		66'
Substitutions:
FW	10	Clésio		46'
DF	5	Bruno Langa		46'
FW	9	Lau King	90+11'	66'
MF	6	Amadú		81'
DF	4	Nené		89'
Coach:
Chiquinho Conde

Man of the Match:
Guima (Mozambique)

Assistant referees:
Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo (Madagascar)
Jonathan Ahonto Koffi (Togo)
Fourth official:
Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania)
Video assistant referee:
Peter Waweru (Kenya)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Haytem Guirat (Tunisia)

Ghana vs Cape Verde

Ghana and Cape Verde met for the sixth time ever, and this was their first encounter since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which Ghana won 2–0. In addition, Ghana also defeated Cape Verde twice during qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, including a 4-0 win in Cape Verde. This outcome secured Ghana's qualification for a FIFA World Cup for the first time in the nation's history.

Jamiro Monteiro shocked the Ghanaians in the 17th minute by tapping into an empty net after Richard Ofori palmed Jovane Cabral’s fierce first-time effort into the goalscorer’s path. After being ruled out of an equaliser from Ransford Yeboah for offside before half-time, within 15 minutes of the restart, Alexander Djiku capitalised from the corner kick, bundled into the bottom corner to restore parity. However, feckless defending doomed the Ghanaians in the second minute of extra time, when Garry Rodrigues capitalized from Ghanaian errors to slot into an empty net for the shock win.^[5]

14 January 2024

20:00

Ghana	1–2	Cape Verde
Djiku 56'	Report	Monteiro 17' Rodrigues 90+2'

Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Attendance: 11,943^[6]

Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)

Ghana

Cape Verde


GK	1	Richard Ofori (c)
RB	3	Denis Odoi
CB	23	Alexander Djiku	11'
CB	6	Mohammed Salisu
LB	14	Gideon Mensah
CM	26	Iddrisu Baba	48'
CM	8	Majeed Ashimeru		88'
RW	25	Antoine Semenyo		62'
AM	7	Ransford Yeboah		62'
LW	13	Joseph Paintsil	54'	62'
CF	9	Jordan Ayew		90+3'
Substitutions:
FW	10	André Ayew		62'
FW	24	Ernest Nuamah		62'
FW	19	Iñaki Williams		62'
MF	21	Salis Abdul Samed		88'
FW	11	Osman Bukari		90+3'
Coach:
Chris Hughton


GK	1	Vozinha
RB	23	Steven Moreira
CB	5	Logan Costa
CB	4	Pico
LB	8	João Paulo
CM	14	Deroy Duarte	64'	68'
CM	26	Kevin Pina
CM	10	Jamiro Monteiro		84'
RF	20	Ryan Mendes (c)		68'
CF	21	Bebé		75'
LF	7	Jovane Cabral		84'
Substitutions:
MF	18	Kenny Rocha Santos	74'	68'
FW	11	Garry Rodrigues	90+3'	68'
FW	17	Willy Semedo		75'
MF	15	Laros Duarte		84'
FW	9	Gilson Tavares		84'
Coach:
Bubista

Man of the Match:
Alexander Djiku (Ghana)

Assistant referees:
Elvis Noupue (Cameroon)
Abelmiro dos Reis (São Tomé and Príncipe)
Fourth official:
Ahmed Heerelal (Mauritius)
Video assistant referee:
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Mokrane Gourari (Algeria)

Egypt vs Ghana

Egypt and Ghana met for the first time since a 1-1 draw on Nov. 12, 2017, in the teams' group stage finale for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. In addition, the nations also met at four previous editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, with the most recent being a group stage finale in 2017, when Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the match in Port-Gentil, Gabon to give Egypt the 1-0 victory; coupled with Mali's 1-1 draw against Uganda, Ghana advanced to the knockout stage with Egypt. Ghana last defeated Egypt in 2013, winning 6-1 in the first leg of a playoff to determine who would qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

After a scoreless first 45 minutes, in first-half stoppage time Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah was injured, and within that time, Mohammed Kudus received a pass 25 yards from goal, shifted the ball away from Omar Marmoush and lashed in superbly to give Mohamed El Shenawy no chance.^[7] After Mohamed Abdelmonem got his equalizer ruled out for offside, Marmoush redeemed at the 69th minute by pouncing on an awful backpass by Iñaki Williams, rounding Richard Ofori and tucking home with aplomb. Kudus immediately responded by restoring parity just two minutes later with a deflecting shot from a failed Abdelmonem's clearance. Still, Ghana's lead was squandered just three minutes later when Trézéguet dispatched the ball from Osman Bukari, before cutting for Mostafa Mohamed to slot in to end the manic thriller to a draw.^[8]

18 January 2024

20:00

Egypt	2–2	Ghana
Marmoush 69' Mostafa 74'	Report	Kudus 45+3', 71'

Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Attendance: 20,808^[9]

Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)

Egypt

Ghana


GK	16	Mohamed El Shenawy
RB	4	Omar Kamal
CB	24	Mohamed Abdelmonem
CB	6	Ahmed Hegazi
LB	12	Mohamed Hamdy
DM	17	Mohamed Elneny	68'
DM	5	Hamdy Fathy
CM	8	Emam Ashour
RF	10	Mohamed Salah (c)	45+2'
CF	19	Mostafa Mohamed
LF	22	Omar Marmoush	90'
Substitutions:
FW	18	Mostafa Fathi	45+2'
FW	7	Trézéguet	68'
MF	14	Marwan Attia	90'
Coach:
Rui Vitória


GK	1	Richard Ofori (c)
RB	3	Denis Odoi
CB	23	Alexander Djiku
CB	6	Mohammed Salisu
LB	14	Gideon Mensah
CM	21	Salis Abdul Samed	38'	89'
CM	8	Majeed Ashimeru		62'
RW	25	Antoine Semenyo
AM	20	Mohammed Kudus
LW	19	Iñaki Williams		73'
CF	9	Jordan Ayew
Substitutions:
MF	26	Iddrisu Baba		62'
FW	11	Osman Bukari		73'	89'
MF	15	Elisha Owusu		89'
FW	13	Joseph Paintsil		89'
Coach:
Chris Hughton

Man of the Match:
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)

Assistant referees:
Boris Ditsoga (Gabon)
Carine Atezambong (Cameroon)
Fourth official:
Tanguy Mebiame (Gabon)
Video assistant referee:
Issa Sy (Senegal)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Abongile Tom (South Africa)

Cape Verde vs Mozambique

Cape Verde and Mozambique met for the fifth time, as the previous four encounters involved qualifying matches for the Africa Cup of Nations. Both nations were drawn into Group F for qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (along with Niger and Zambia), and the nations met twice in five days in October 2014. Mozambique, who had two draws coming into this match, won 2-0 in the first meeting against Cape Verde, who had opened qualifying with two victories, on Oct. 11, 2014. In the return match on Oct. 15, 2014, Cape Verde got a 79th-minute goal from Heldon, which happened to be the game's only goal; coupled with other results, Cape Verde was one of two nations to secure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The nations also met during qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with the team's first meeting being a 2-2 draw in Praia; Cape Verde had been winning until they allowed a stoppage-time goal in that match. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the other match to be delayed. When the teams met again on Mar. 30, 2021, it was another 1-0 victory for Cape Verde (this one, courtesy of an own goal from Mozambique's Faizal Bangal) that secured Cape Verde's qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Cape Verde got off to a perfect start when Bebé produced a fiery long-range set-piece shot to the net to give the Cape Verdeans the lead. In the 51st minute, Edmilson Dove's clumsy effort to hold the ball was intercepted by Ryan Mendes before Mendes doubled the West Africans' lead. Kevin Pina then ended any Mozambican hope for a comeback with an equally brilliant thunderous long-range shot.^[10]

This result meant Cape Verde advanced past the group stages in three out of four AFCON they have participated.

19 January 2024

14:00

Cape Verde	3–0	Mozambique
Bebé 32' Mendes 51' Pina 69'	Report

Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Attendance: 5,794^[11]

Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)

Cape Verde

Mozambique


GK	1	Vozinha
RB	23	Steven Moreira		75'
CB	5	Logan Costa
CB	4	Pico
LB	7	Jovane Cabral	61'	75'
DM	26	Kevin Pina
RM	14	Deroy Duarte		80'
LM	10	Jamiro Monteiro		80'
AM	8	João Paulo
CF	21	Bebé		58'
CF	20	Ryan Mendes (c)
Substitutions:
FW	17	Willy Semedo		58'
FW	9	Gilson Tavares		75'
FW	11	Garry Rodrigues		75'
MF	18	Kenny Rocha Santos		80'
MF	13	Cuca		80'
Coach:
Bubista


GK	1	Ernan Siluane
RB	14	Domingos	78'
CB	17	Mexer (c)
CB	8	Edmilson Dove
LB	15	Reinildo Mandava
RM	20	Geny Catamo
CM	21	Guima
CM	16	Alfons Amade	67'
LM	5	Bruno Langa	78'
SS	19	Witi	46'
CF	13	Stanley Ratifo	46'
Substitutions:
MF	7	Domingues	46'
FW	9	Lau King	46'
MF	23	Shaquille	67'
FW	18	Gildo	78'
DF	2	Nanani	78'
Coach:
Chiquinho Conde

Man of the Match:
Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde)

Assistant referees:
Lahcen Azgaou (Morocco)
Mustapha Akerkad (Morocco)
Fourth official:
Jalal Jiyed (Morocco)
Video assistant referee:
Redouane Jiyed (Morocco)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Zakaria Brinssi (Morocco)

Mozambique vs Ghana

Ghana and Mozambique met for the sixth time, with the first meeting coming in the final group matchday of the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, with Ghana winning 2-0. The two nations also met during qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, playing twice in four days in March 2016.

The Black Stars were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute after Joseph Paintsil was fouled by Nanani and Mexer in the penalty area. Jordan Ayew converted successfully. The situation became more favourable for the Ghanaians when from an attack in the 66th minute, Reinildo Mandava handled a shot from Mohammed Kudus, leading to another penalty which Jordan Ayew again converted. However, André Ayew's handball won the Mozambicans a penalty themselves, scored by Geny Catamo in the first minute of stoppage time. Three minutes later, a corner kick coming from Richard Ofori's mishandling of the ball resulted in a header from Mandava, which tied the score but it proved to be futile as Mozambique crashed out; however, the draw also left Ghana in despair as they had to wait until the final matches, with their elimination confirmed the day after.^[12]

22 January 2024

20:00

Mozambique	2–2	Ghana
Geny 90+1' (pen.) Mandava 90+4'	Report	J. Ayew 15' (pen.), 70' (pen.)

Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Attendance: 6,000^[13]

Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya)

Mozambique

Ghana


GK	22	Ivane Urrubal
CB	2	Nanani	84'
CB	17	Mexer (c)	69'
CB	15	Reinildo Mandava	67'
DM	4	Nené		73'
CM	21	Guima		87'
CM	16	Alfons Amade		73'
RW	20	Geny Catamo	31'
LW	5	Bruno Langa
SS	19	Witi		61'
CF	9	Lau King		87'
Substitutions:
FW	18	Gildo		61'
FW	13	Stanley Ratifo		73'
MF	7	Domingues		73'
MF	11	João Bonde		87'
MF	23	Shaquille		87'
Coach:
Chiquinho Conde


GK	1	Richard Ofori (c)
RB	3	Denis Odoi		72'
CB	23	Alexander Djiku	62'
CB	6	Mohammed Salisu
LB	14	Gideon Mensah
CM	21	Salis Abdul Samed
CM	8	Majeed Ashimeru	28'	37'
RW	25	Antoine Semenyo		72'
AM	20	Mohammed Kudus		89'
LW	13	Joseph Paintsil		46'
CF	9	Jordan Ayew	83'
Substitutions:
MF	26	Iddrisu Baba	58'	37'
FW	10	André Ayew	49'	46'
DF	2	Alidu Seidu		72'
DF	18	Daniel Amartey		72'
FW	19	Iñaki Williams		89'
Coach:
Chris Hughton

Man of the Match:
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)

Assistant referees:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)
Abbes Zerhouni (Algeria)
Fourth official:
Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda)
Video assistant referee:
Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)

Cape Verde vs Egypt

Cape Verde and Egypt met for the first time ever in this group stage finale.

The match got off to a high-tempo start as Egypt was desperate to gain a ticket to advance. Despite Cape Verde having guaranteed their top spot, it was the Cape Verdeans who stroke first in the first minute of extra time when Benchimol swiveled and fired the ball into the bottom corner at the disbelief of the Egyptians. Five minutes after the restart, however, Trézéguet would find the back of the net for Egypt thanks to a clinical pass from Ahmed Hegazi before putting through the legs of Vozinha. The Egyptians, inspired by this goal, poured everything to find the second, and they were rewarded in the third minute of added time when Mostafa Mohamed, with the wit from his teammate Trézéguet's pass, dank the onrushing Vozinha to make it two for Egypt. However, just six minutes later, Egypt squandered the lead when Bryan Teixeira pounced over Mohamed El Shenawy to seal the deal of the match to a thrilling draw.^[14]

This was the first time Cape Verde topped the table of the group stages in an AFCON. Meanwhile, despite three consecutive 2–2 draws, Egypt advanced to the knockout stages, thanks to Ghana dropping two points to Mozambique.

22 January 2024

20:00

Cape Verde	2–2	Egypt
G. Tavares 45+1' Teixeira 90+9'	Report	Trézéguet 50' Mostafa 90+3'

Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Attendance: 15,650^[15]

Referee: Alhadi Allaou Mahamat (Chad)

Cape Verde

Egypt


GK	1	Vozinha
RB	17	Willy Semedo
CB	5	Logan Costa
CB	3	Diney
LB	16	Dylan Tavares
DM	26	Kevin Pina	71'	75'
RM	20	Ryan Mendes (c)		64'
CM	6	Patrick Andrade		70'
CM	18	Kenny Rocha Santos
LM	11	Garry Rodrigues		64'
CF	9	Gilson Tavares		64'
Substitutions:
FW	19	Bryan Teixeira		64'
DF	23	Steven Moreira		64'
MF	10	Jamiro Monteiro		64'
MF	8	João Paulo		70'
MF	13	Cuca		75'
Coach:
Bubista


GK	16	Mohamed El Shenawy		90+12'
RB	3	Mohamed Hany
CB	24	Mohamed Abdelmonem
CB	6	Ahmed Hegazi (c)	88'
LB	13	Ahmed Fatouh		46'
DM	14	Marwan Attia
DM	5	Hamdy Fathy		46'
CM	8	Emam Ashour
RF	25	Zizo		74'
CF	19	Mostafa Mohamed
LF	22	Omar Marmoush	63'	83'
Substitutions:
FW	7	Trézéguet		46'
DF	12	Mohamed Hamdy		46'
FW	11	Kahraba		74'
FW	18	Mostafa Fathi		83'
GK	23	Mohamed Abou Gabal		90+12'
Coach:
Rui Vitória

Man of the Match:
Trézéguet (Egypt)

Assistant referees:
Liban Abdoulrazack (Djibouti)
Steven Moutsassi (Congo)
Fourth official:
Patrice Tanguy (Gabon)
Video assistant referee:
Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Maria Rivet (Mauritius)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

Team	Match 1	Match 2	Match 3	Points
Team				Points
Egypt	1		2	–3
Ghana	3	1	5	–9
Cape Verde	3	1	1	–5
Mozambique	3		4	–7

References

^ Olufemi, Damilola (12 October 2023). "FULL LIST: 2023 AFCON group draw". The Punch.
^ "WATCH LIVE: TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d'Ivoire 2023 Official Draw". Confederation of African Football. 10 December 2023.
^ "Egypt 2 Mozambique 2". BBC Sport. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^ "Egypt vs Mozambique match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
^ "Ghana 1 Cape Verde 2". BBC Sport. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^ "Ghana vs Cape Verde match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
^ "Egypt 2 Ghana 2". Sky Sports. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^ "Egypt 2 Ghana 2". BBC Sport. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^ "Egypt vs Ghana match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
^ "Africa Cup of Nations: Cape Verde reach last 16 with over Mozambique, Senegal through, Guinea beat Gambia". TNT Sports. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^ "Cape Verde vs Mozambique match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
^ "Mozambique 2 Ghana 2". BBC Sport. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "Mozambique vs Ghana match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^ "Cape Verde 2 Egypt 2". BBC Sport. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^ "Cape Verde vs Egypt match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.