AFCON: Equatorial Guinea Triumps Over Guinea Bissau As Egypt And Ghana Go Two All

By: Gyang Dakwo

Equatorial Guinea defeated Guinea-Bissau 4-2 to move closer to reaching the knockout stages at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Former Middlesbrough player Emilio Nsue scored a hat-trick, while Josete Miranda was also on the scoresheet for Equatorial Guinea.

Los Elefantes now have four points from two matches in Group A, but face a challenge in their final game against hosts Ivory Coast.

Nsue, who captained Equatorial Guinea to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in 2015, scored the first hat-trick at the tournament since Soufiane Alloudi’s three goals for Morocco against Namibia in 2008.

Equatorial Guinea look likely to progress to the knockouts, even if they fail to get a result against hosts Ivory Coast in their final group stage match – the four best third-placed teams also advance to the last 16.

Meanwhile a Mohammed Kudus brace was not enough for Ghana to secure the needed win in their African Nations Cup clash with Egypt as goals from Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed meant the points were shared.

Both sides remain winless in the competition after two games as they drew their opening matches.

Egypt lost Mohamed Salah to injury but twice fought back to draw 2-2 with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana remained bottom of Group B with just one point, level with Mozambique, while Egypt are second on two points behind group leaders Cape Verde.

Cape Verde and Mozambique play their second game of the tournament on Friday with only the top two in each group assured of advancing.