Cape Verde beat Chris Hughton’s four-time winners Ghana to top AFCON Group B
2024 Africa Cup of Nations
1-2
Match Events
17' GOAL! Ghana 0-1 Cape Verde Islands (Jamiro Monteiro)
27' Match Event for Ghana vs Cape Verde Islands
39' Match Event for Ghana vs Cape Verde Islands
56' GOAL! Ghana 1-1 Cape Verde Islands (Djiku)
60' Highlight from Ghana vs Cape Verde Islands
75' Match Event for Ghana vs Cape Verde Islands
82' Match Event for Ghana vs Cape Verde Islands
90' GOAL! Ghana 1-2 Cape Verde Islands (Garry Rodrigues)
Match Report
Garry Rodrigues scored a stoppage-time winner as Cape Verde beat Chris Hughton’s four-time winners Ghana 2-1 to go top of Group B in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Rodrigues took advantage of a mix-up in the Ghana defence to tap the ball into an empty net and give his side a deserved victory in Abidjan.
Jamiro Monteiro had put the islanders ahead in the 17th minute and Ghana had a goal ruled out by the VAR before Alexander Djiku got them back on level terms with a stooping header, 10 minutes into the second half.
Mohammed Kudus in action for Ghana
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori made two vital saves before substitute Rodrigues pounced at the death to secure all three points.
It was another disappointing result for the Black Stars, who last won the title in 1982 and failed to get out of the group stages in 2021.
Hughton’s side were without West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus due to injury but it was defensive lapses which proved costly and Monteiro was left with a simple tap-in to open the scoring after Ofori palmed a shot from Jovane Cabral straight into his path.
Ghana thought they had equalised in the 36th minute when Majeed Ashimeru rifled a superb long-range strike into the bottom corner, only for it to be ruled out following a lengthy VAR check.
𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘
Ghana 1⃣-2⃣ Cape Verde #BlackStars | #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/huyl5FxikJ
— Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) January 14, 2024
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo eventually decided that Ransford Konigsdorffer, who had unwittingly hit the post moments earlier when the ball was palmed onto his head by Vozinha, was blocking the view of the goalkeeper inside the area.
Djiku did equalise in the 56th minute as he headed home Jordan Ayew’s corner and the defender also produced a vital block at the other end from Bebe’s scuffed shot.
But just as the game looked set to fizzle out, Gilson Benchimol took advantage of a blunder from Mohammed Salisu to nip in front of Ofori and set up Rodrigues for the easiest of winners.
Line-ups
Ghana XI: Denis Odoi, Jordan Ayew, Djiku, Richard Ofori, Gideon Mensah, Iddrisu Baba, Majeed Ashimeru, Joseph Paintsil, Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Salisu, Ransford Königsdörffer
Subs: A.Ayew, Amartey, I.Williams, Lawrence Ati Zigi, Owusu, Joe Wollacott, Nicholas Opoku, Osman Bukari, Salis Abdul Samed, Alidu Seidu, Ernest Nuamah, Jonathan Sowah
Cape Verde Islands XI: Ryan Mendes, Bebé, Roberto Lopes, Vozinha, Steven Moreira, Jamiro Monteiro, Deroy Duarte, Jovane, Kevin Lenini, Logan Costa, João Paulo
Subs: Garry Rodrigues, Cuca, Patrick Andrade, Dylan Tavares, Diney Borges, Laros Duarte, Márcio Rosa, Santos, Willy Semedo, Dylan Silva, Bryan Teixeira, Benchimol