As the curtain falls on Group B in the Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana finds itself at a critical juncture, battling to prolong its qualification aspirations in a clash against Mozambique at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara scheduled for Monday night.
Ghana, perched precariously in third place in the group with a mere point, faces Mozambique, their counterparts at the bottom of the standings, sharing the same tally. The Black Stars are on the brink of a second consecutive AFCON group-stage exit.
Enduring a 12-year hiatus from the AFCON, Mozambique stands shoulder to shoulder with Ghana in the quest to advance, with both teams facing identical requirements to remain in contention.
The historical narrative, however, seems to favor Ghana, as Mozambique, known as The Mambas, has never secured victory in an AFCON group-stage encounter. With a record showing 12 losses and two draws across five tournaments, they seek to rewrite history in this crucial match.
Adding to Mozambique’s challenges is their inability to keep a clean sheet in the premier continental competition. Having conceded 31 goals in 14 AFCON matches, they face the prospect of drawing level with Zimbabwe, enduring a 15-game streak without a clean sheet, should they fail to rectify this on Monday.
Chiquinho Conde’s side displayed promise in their opening match against Egypt, taking a 2-1 lead only to be thwarted by a late penalty, leaving them with a heartbreaking draw. Their second encounter against Cape Verde, marred by defensive lapses, resulted in a 3-0 defeat, pushing them to the brink of elimination.
Ghana, haunted by memories of a tournament exit two years ago, risks a similar fate if they falter in this crucial encounter, concluding at the bottom of Group B. Their AFCON 2024 journey started on a sour note with a 2-1defeat against group leaders Cape Verde, intensifying the pressure.
Facing Egypt in their second match, Ghana demonstrated improvement but was unable to secure a win, marking their sixth consecutive AFCON match without a victory—a historic low in their over six-decade involvement in the competition.
A win against Mozambique won’t secure automatic qualification for Ghana, contingent on Egypt’s result against Cape Verde. However, accumulating four points would likely position them as one of the best third-placed teams.
As the teams prepare to square off, Mozambique’s recent form includes a draw and a loss in AFCON, while their broader competition record reflects a win, a draw, and three losses. Ghana, on the other hand, has suffered a loss and a draw in AFCON, with their overall form revealing a win, a loss, and three draws. The stage is set for a decisive showdown in Group B, where each moment holds the potential to alter the fate of these teams in the Africa Cup of Nations.
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