Egypt fought back twice to draw 2-2 with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations after a spirited second half in Abidjan.
Mohamed Quds struck to put Ghana ahead in first-half stoppage time a minute after Pharaohs captain Mohamed Salah was injured.
Omar Marmus equalized but West Ham’s Qudous quickly restored the Black Stars’ lead with a deflected effort.
However, Mostafa Mohamed stabbed in to give Egypt their second point and leave Ghana without a win after two Group B games.
There were late chances at each end to win it, with Ghana keeper Richard Ofori saving Emam Ashour’s shot before Pharaohs keeper Mohamed El Shenawy failed to clear a corner which Iddrisu Baba was unable to clear towards goal. .
Chris Hughton’s Black Stars lost their first game to Cape Verde and the four-time continental champions are on the brink of a second consecutive group stage exit from the Afcon finals.
Cape Verde will secure top spot in Group B if the islanders beat Mozambique on Friday (1400 GMT), with Egypt and Ghana waiting to find out what they will need from the final round of matches on Monday.
The 24-team format means three points can be enough to qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Salah was forced to leave before Quds came to the party
Salah was awarded a penalty in the 97th minute saved Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Mozambique in their first outing, but the forward was a peripheral figure against Ghana before sinking to the turf in frustration and then walking off.
The injury will be a concern for both the North Africans, who were runners-up at the 2021 Afcon, and Liverpool given the 31-year-old’s central role in their Premier League title challenge.
Egypt coach Rui Vitoria said: “We still don’t know what the problem is. I hope it’s not a big problem. Now, I don’t know why it’s too early to see anything. I think it’s not dangerous, but let’s see if Salah recovers.” .
Moments later Kudus, who missed Ghana’s opener through injury, provided the only spark in a subpar first half.
The 23-year-old received the ball just outside the penalty area and showed quick feet to clear two defenders before unleashing a left-footed effort that flew inside the left upright.
The second half was full of action and Mohamed Abdelmonem thought he had leveled six minutes after the break from Ahmed Hegazi’s header across goal, but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside in the build-up and the decision was upheld by the video assistant referee . .
Egypt, seven-time Afcon winners, equalized in the 69th minute when Marmoush pounced on an errant cross from Inaki Williams, rounded Ofori and slotted home from a tight angle.
But Ghana were back in front just 141 seconds later as Denis Ontoi picked out Qudous in the area and his left-footed shot deflected off the shoulder of the hapless Abdelmonem and into the bottom-left corner.
The Black Stars were once again unable to hold on to their lead, however, as Trezeguet robbed Osman Bukari and set up Mohamed for a smart finish through the legs of Ofori – and a result that left both sides to work for in their last group games.
Lining up
Egypt
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16El Senawy Gomaa
- 4Abdel Wahed
- 6Hegazy
- 24Mohammed Ahmed
- 12Hamdy Mahmoud Sharfedin
- 5Abdel Fattah
- 17ElneniSubstituted forTrézéguetin the 68′minutes
- 10SalahSubstituted forAbdel Hameid Mohamed Abdallain the 45+2′minutes
- 8Abdelghani
- 22MarmoushSubstituted forGallopin the 90′minutes
- 19Abdullah
Substitutes
- 2Gabr
- 3Gamal Eldemerdas
- 7Trézéguet
- 9Mohammed Maghoub
- 11Kahraba
- 13Mohammed
- 14Gallop
- 18Abdel Hameid Mohamed Abdalla
- 20Hamada Awad
- 23Abu Gabal Ali
- 25he said
- 26Daader
Ghana
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ofori
- 3Odoi
- 23Dziku
- 6Salisou
- 14Mensah
- 8AsimerouSubstituted forDadin the 62′minutes
- 21Abdul SamedReservation at 38 minutesSubstituted forOwusuin the 89′minutes
- 19WilliamsSubstituted forBukariin the 73′minutesSubstituted forPaintsilin the 89′minutes
- 20Congratulations
- 9J Ayew
- 25Semen
Substitutes
- 2Seidu
- 4Opoku
- 10An Ayew
- 11Bukari
- 12Wollacott
- 13Paintsil
- 15Owusu
- 16Ziggy
- 18Amartey
- 24Nuamah
- 26Dad
- 27Sowah
Live text
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End of match, Egypt 2, Ghana 2.
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End of second half, Egypt 2, Ghana 2.
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Attempt failure. Iddrisu Baba (Ghana) header from the center of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Ayew with a cross after a corner.
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Corner, Ghana. Courtesy of Ahmed Hegazy.
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Attempt saved. Emam Ashour (Egypt) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. With help from Marwan Attia.
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Corner, Ghana. Granted by Trézéguet.
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Replacement, Egypt. Marwan Attia replaces Omar Marmoush.
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Change, Ghana. Joseph Paintsil replaces Osman Bukari.
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Change, Ghana. Elisha Owusu replaces Salis Abdul Samed.
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Attempt failure. Omar Marmoush (Egypt) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assists Mostafa Fathi.
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Delay is over. They are ready to continue.
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Foul by Omar Marmous (Egypt).
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Dennis Odoi (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Trezeguet (Egypt) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. With the help of Omar Marmoush.
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Omar Kamal (Egypt) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Idriss Baba (Ghana).
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Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Idriss Baba (Ghana).