In a day filled with unexpected results at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, Garry Rodrigues delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner, propelling the Cape Verde Islands to a 2-1 victory over four-time champions Ghana in Group B.
This thrilling encounter unfolded as the third match of the day in Abidjan, following Nigeria’s draw with Equatorial Guinea in Group A. Earlier in Group B, Egypt relied on a last-gasp penalty to secure a draw against Mozambique at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.
Cape Verde took the lead in the 17th minute when Dutch-born Garry Rodrigues’s shot was parried by Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori, creating an opportunity for Jamiro Monteiro to slot home from close range.
Ghana responded 11 minutes into the second half, as Alexander Djiku rose to head home from Jordan Ayew’s corner. The Cape Verde defense faltered in clearing an innocuous delivery, allowing Ghana to level the score.
This unexpected victory for Cape Verde adds to the series of surprises on display in the Africa Cup of Nations, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the tournament.
