Ghana and hosts Ivory Coast on brink of early Africa Cup of Nations exits after collapsing in final group games
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Updated 22/01/2024 at 23:56 GMT
Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast are on the brink of a group stage elimination after being hammered 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea. The result leaves them with three points from three games, so they could still qualify as one of the competition's best third placed teams. However, four-time winners Ghana have all but been eliminated after conceding twice in injury time to draw with Mozambique.
Andre Ayew reacts after the draw between the teams of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group B football match between Mozambique and Ghana at Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan on January 22, 2024.
Image credit: Eurosport
Mozambique staged a sensational comeback to all-but dump Chris Hughton's Ghana out of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Leading 2-0 heading into second-half injury time, the four-time winners looked destined for a place in the round-of-16.
However, Geny Catamo gave the Mambas a sniff of a shock when he converted a 91st-minute penalty, before Reinildo Mandava completed the comeback by equalising three minutes later.
The result isn't enough to move Mozambique off bottom spot in Group B, but it leaves Ghana needing a miracle to avoid a group stage elimination for the second tournament running.
"I take responsibility for this performance," ex-Newcastle boss Hughton said. "As head coach, I have not done well enough in this competition."
"We've played three games and we've conceded two goals in each of these games, and we haven't put ourselves in a winning position where we could score goals."
Four teams will qualify for the knockout stages as best third-placed finishers in their respective groups.
Two countries are already above the Black Stars on that metric with three points, while there are four groups still to reach their conclusion.
One of the nations ahead of Ghana are tournament hosts Ivory Coast, although they too are staring down the barrel of an embarrassing early exit.
The Elephants were thrashed 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea, who are looking to equal their shock run to the semi-finals in 2015.
Emilio Nsue's brace put Juan Micha's side into the lead, before Pablo Ganet and Yannick Buyla put the result beyond doubt.
Ivory Coast, who have lost back-to-back fixtures and have three points from as many matches, were subsequently booed from the field and are now left relying on other teams to do them a favour if they are to go through.
Should they be eliminated before the round-of-16, Jean-Louis Gasset's side will become just the second host nation over the last 30 years to fail to reach the knockout stages, alongside Gabon in 2017.
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