Abidjan’s Félix Houphouët Boigny stadium will be the centre of attention once again as Ghana's Black Stars take on tournament record holders, Egypt later tonight.
Both sides are aiming for nothing less than a victory after a slowing start in their opening games.
The Black Stars were stunned 2-1 by Cape Verde while Egypt were held to a 1-1 draw by Mozambique in their opening match.
Both sides have an impressive record in the tournament but have not really lived up to their high standards of late.
Both sides find themselves in a very tricky position of having to win today’s match, with the so-called underdogs of the group Cape Verde and Mozambique currently high in confidence.
This will be the fifth AFCON meeting between the two giants.
Speaking ahead of the game, the Black Stas winger Jordan Ayew revealed his teammates are ready for the Egypt test.
“Tomorrow is going to be a tough game and the boys are ready. We put ourselves in a difficult position and will fight to put in a better performance. I am sure tomorrow we will all have something to smile about after the game.”
Pierre Ghislain Atcho from Gabon has been appointed as referee for the clash.
The 32-year old will be assisted by compatriot Boris Marlaise Ditsoga (Assistant I), Carine Atezambong Fomo from Cameroon (Assistant II) and Tanguy Patrice Mebiame from Gabon (Fourth Official).
The crucial group B game is scheduled for 20:00Hrs kick off at Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny.
Egypt vs Ghana facts
- This will be the fifth encounter between Egypt and Ghana at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. They have met three times previously in the group stages (one win each, one draw and two goals each) and once in the final, which Egypt won in 2010 (1-0).
- Egypt have won their last two matches against Ghana at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (1-0 in the 2010 final, 1-0 in the 2017 group stages).
- The four previous matches between Egypt and Ghana at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations have produced only five goals.
- Egypt have lost just one of their last 20 CAF Africa Cup of Nations group stage matches (W14 D5), a 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in 2022. Following their 2-2 draw with Mozambique on MD1, the Pharaohs will be looking to avoid failing to win either of their first two group games in a tournament since doing so in 1992, which included defeat to Ghana on MD2.
- Ghana suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cabo Verbe on MD1 of the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stars haven’t lost their first two matches in a tournament since 1984, losing to Nigeria and Algeria.
- Egypt shipped two goals in their 2-2 draw with Mozambique on MD1 of this year’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations, having only shipped two goals in a game in one of their previous 28 matches at the tournament, losing 2-1 to Cameroon in the 2017 final. They also conceded with both of the shots on target they faced against Mozambique, with 25% of their touches in the opposition box resulting in a goal (2/8).
- Ghana are winless in their last five matches at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (D2 L3), their longest ever winless run in the competition. They have lost their last two matches (2-3 vs Comoros in 2022, 1-2 vs Cabo Verde on MD1 this year), never before losing three in a row at AFCON.
- Four of Ghana’s last five goals at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations have come via a set piece (three corners, one free kick), with the last two both scored by defender Alexander Djiku. The last Ghana player to score three consecutive goals for them at AFCON was Mubarak Wakaso in 2013.
- Mohammed Salah’s first goal for Egypt at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations came against Ghana, in 2017 (1-0). In fact, he’s scored in each of his last two appearances against the Black Stars: in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 2016 and at the 2017 AFCON.
- Egypt’s Mohamed Salah has scored seven goals the CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the Pharaohs, now behind only Hassan El-Shazly (12), Hossam Hassan (11) and Ahmed Hassan (8) in the list of leading Egyptian scorers in the competition. He also became the first Egyptian player to score at four different AFCON tournaments (2017, 2019, 2022, 2023), thanks to his late penalty against Mozambique on MD1.