Ghana and the United States men’s national team have a rich history of meeting at the World Cup. The African nation knocked out the USMNT of the world’s biggest tournament in 2010 and 2006 and the Americans got revenge in 2014. Both teams failed to make the 2018 edition and now the question of will Ghana make the World Cup looms after the latest World Cup qualifying draw.
DOUALA, Cameroon - Nicolas Pépé scored a superb solo goal as Ivory Coast thumped Algeria 3-1 to send the defending champions crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday following a disastrous Group E campaign.
Algeria's 35-game unbeaten run was ended by Equatorial Guinea in a stunning upset in their last match, and they were outplayed again by the impressive Ivorians, who might have had more goals with better finishing.
LIMBE, Cameroon - Sierra Leone’s veteran striker Kei Kamara missed a late penalty to scupper their chances of reaching the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations as they lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Thursday.
Pablo Ganet’s 38th-minute strike ensured Equatorial Guinea finished second in Group E and progressed, but Sierra Leone might have gone through as one of the best third-placed finishers if they had forced a draw.
They were awarded a last-minute penalty, but Kamara’s effort was saved by Equatorial Guinea’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Jesús Owono.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are now favorites at the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-0 on Wednesday to become the only team to make it through the group stage in Cameroon with a perfect record.
The form of Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has sent a message across Africa — he scored the match-winner against Egypt and provided a beautiful assist on Wednesday's opening goal — but the player to watch has been Nantes winger Moses Simon.
Comoros, making its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations appearance, has knocked out four-time champion and enemy of the USMNT Ghana after scoring its first three goals in tournament history during an insane 3-2 victory.
DOUALA - Esteban Obiang scored 20 minutes from time as Equatorial Guinea pulled off one of the great Africa Cup of Nations finals upsets with a 1-0 win over defending champions Algeria on Sunday.
The shock Group E result leaves Algeria bottom of the standings and needing a win in their last group game against the Ivory Coast on Thursday to stand any chance of advancing.
The story of Matchday 1 across AFCON was probably Sierra Leone's unlikely 0-0 draw with tournament favorite Algeria last Tuesday.
It was only a matter of time before Mohamed Salah found the back of the net for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Liverpool star hardly had a sight of goal in Egypt’s opener against Nigeria. He still had few opportunities in front of his opponent’s goal on Saturday, but Salah was the man to make the breakthrough as he and his side defeated Guinea-Bissau 1-0.
A player on the losing team receiving the Man of the Match award rarely happens in soccer. Despite the rarity of the situation, it was the only possible outcome after Friday’s AFCON game between Morocco and Comoros. Salim Ben Boina, the 30-year-old Comoros goalkeeper, had one of the most spectacular performances AFCON has seen during his side’s 2-0 defeat.
Morocco should have won Friday’s group stage game by a minimum of 6-0, however Boina consistently produced miracle saves to keep his country — ranked No. 132 in the world and competing in its first ever AFCON — in the game.
There is truly nothing like the Africa Cup of Nations, and this year’s edition is no different.