Four-time champions Ghana were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday in a stunning upset, while Morocco and Senegal won their respective groups but without backing up their status as pre-tournament favourites.
Just two days after Equatorial Guinea shook up the tournament by beating defending champions Algeria, equally tiny Comoros humiliated Ghana with a 3-2 win in their Group C clash in Garoua in one of the competition’s biggest surprises so far.
The small Indian Ocean island archipelago are making their Cup of Nations debut and registered not only their first goal of the tournament but their first win in a stunning result.
They might even sneak into last 16 as one of the best four third-placed finishers after condemning Ghana to last place but will have to wait for the outcome of the last group games on Wednesday and Thursday. El Fardou Ben Mohamed scored Comoros’ first ever goal at the continental finals before Ahmed Mogni added a second just past the hour-mark. Ghana had captain Dede Ayew sent off early in the match, but goals from Richmond Boakye and Alexander Djiku levelled the tie as they fought back, only for Comoros’ Mogni to grab a winner with five minutes remaining. Morocco won the group after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 against an under strength Gabon, who had eight payers out with COVID-19 infections and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sent back to his club in England for further medical tests after the detection of post-virus cardiac lesions. Gabon will be hoping he is cleared to return for Sunday’s opening match of the round of 16 where they will take on Burkina Faso in Limbe.