Co-favorites Nigeria around star striker Victor Osimhen surprisingly dropped points at the start of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast on Sunday (January 14, 2024).
Coach Jose Vitor dos Santos Peseiro’s team only played 1-1 (1-1) against Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan despite their great superiority.
Osimhen with the equalizer
Equatorial Guinea is only in 88th place in the FIFA world rankings, while the Nigerians, who will have to do without the injured Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface for the entire tournament, are in 42nd place.
Iban Salvador (36th) shocked the favorite, but Osimhen (38th) responded immediately with a header after an assist from ex-Leipziger Ademola Lookman. Nigeria then missed numerous chances in 32 degree weather in the sparsely filled Stade Olympique Alassanne Ouattara, which has a capacity of 60,000 spectators.
Favorite Egypt gets a lucky point
Top favorite Egypt for Liverpool star Mohamed Salah averted an embarrassment in stoppage time at the start. Thanks to a converted penalty kick by Salah (90th + 7), the record winner scored 2-2 (1-0) against underdog Mozambique, who are taking part in the tournament for the first time since 2010.
At first everything seemed to be going according to plan for the top favorite: Mostafa Mohamed scored in the second minute of the game. But Mozambique fought back and also set an offensive tone.
A double strike after the break by Witi (55th) and Clesio Bauque (58th) turned the game on its head. Things then got heated and after minutes of VAR testing in stoppage time, Egypt were awarded a penalty, which Salah happily converted with the inside of the post.