A sweet Saturday night in Abidjan
On Saturday night, the sights and sounds of Africa were gorgeously displayed under bright lights.
All roads led to the 60,000-seater Alassane Ouattara Stadium where the buzz and excitement in the football mad crowd was at an all-time high. The collective energy of different cultures combined with the visually pleasing sea of colours and waving flags made the opening night of AFCON 2023 truly special.
Hundreds of dancers and musicians captivated the world with riveting live performances. One of the major highlights of the vibrant curtain raiser was the moment Nigerian Afro-beat Queen, Yemi Alade performed the AFCON 2023 official anthem, ‘Akwaba’ with the legendary group, Magic System and Egyptian rapper, Mohamed Ramadan in front of celebrities and dignitaries.
The glamour of the opening ceremony and the flawless performance of the Elephants certainly made locals and Ivorians worldwide proud. Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou could not hide their smiles in the stands as Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso secured a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau to close a sweet Saturday night in Abidjan.
Super Eagles or Super Chickens?
With the host nation already securing three points and topping Group A, The Super Eagles of Nigeria were under pressure to win their opening encounter against Equatorial Guinea.
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro was left stunned by an unexpected goal by Iban Salvador. Napoli forward Osimhen scored a much needed equalizer for the Super Eagles after just two minutes. The game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, much to the disappointment of Nigerian football enthusiasts.
The Super Eagles will be hoping to appease their fans when they face tournament host Ivory Coast on Thursday.
Guess who is at the top of Group B?
Unlike their West African rivals, the Black Stars of Ghana could not find an equalizer in their opening Afcon Match. A dramatic 92nd-minute winner by Garry Rodrigues fired Cape Verde to the top of Group B. The Ghanaian certainly missed the influence and dynamism of Mohammed Kudus who gives them a cutting edge in the final third. The 2-1 loss means that the Black Stars must now beat the Pharaohs of Egypt in their second Group B outing or face early elimination. In 2021, Black Star fans were left heartbroken by the teams’ humiliating group stage exit after losing to debutants, Comoros.
The Pharaohs avoided defeat in their Group B opener. Last minute heroics by Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah from the penalty spot saved their blushes. Egypt’s surprise 2-2 draw with Mozambique means Cape Verde tops the group for now with three points. With shock results already recorded and 11 goals scored after four matches, this Afcon edition might just be the best one yet…….