Group B of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 14 to 22 January 2024. The group consisted of Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
Cape Verde and Egypt as the top two teams advanced to the round of 16.
Teams Draw position Team Zone Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings October 2023 December 2023 B1 UNAF Group D winners 14 June 2023 26th 2021 Winners (1957, 1959 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010) 35 33 B2 WAFU Group E winners 7 September 2023 14th 2021 Winners (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982) 60 61 B3 WAFU Group B runners-up 18 June 2023 4th 2021 Quarter-finals (2013) 71 73 B4 COSAFA Group L runners-up 18 June 2023 4th 2021 Group stage (1986, 1996, 1998, 2010) 113 111 Notes
Standings
Matches All times are entirely local, GMT (UTC±0).
Egypt vs Mozambique Egypt and Mozambique met for the sixth time, and this was also the fourth time both nations met in the Africa Cup of Nations. In the previous three meetings (1986, 1998 and 2010), Egypt won those respective matches 2–0. In addition, Egypt won both matches during the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Mostafa Mohamed got Egypt off to a dream start in the second minute with a thunderous shot after a missed opportunity by Mohamed Salah. However, Mozambique staged a strong fightback in the second half, first with Witi heading home in the 55th minute from a brilliant pinpoint cross by Domingos Macandza, before three minutes later Clésio put on a stunning turn of pace before slotting into the net. Nonetheless, Mozambique were cruelly denied a historic win by a foul from Macandza on Salah, and Salah converted the penalty off the left post for a draw in the seventh minute of added time.
GK 16Mohamed El ShenawyRB 3 Mohamed Hany CB 24Mohamed Abdelmonem CB 6 Ahmed HegaziLB 12Mohamed HamdyCM 17Mohamed Elneny CM 5 Hamdy FathyRW 10Mohamed Salah (c)AM 25Zizo LW 7Trézéguet CF 19Mostafa MohamedSubstitutions:FW 22Omar Marmoush DF 4 Omar Kamal MF 8Emam Ashour FW 9Koka Manager: Rui Vitória GK 1 Ernan SiluaneRB 14DomingosCB 17MexerCB 8 Edmilson DoveLB 15Reinildo Mandava CM 21Guima CM 16Alfons AmadeRW 19Witi AM 7 Domingues (c) LW 18Gildo CF 13Stanley Ratifo Substitutions:FW 10Clésio DF 5 Bruno Langa FW 9 Lau King MF 6 Amadú DF 4 Nené Manager:Chiquinho Conde Man of the Match: Guima (Mozambique)
Assistant referees: Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo (Madagascar) Jonathan Ahonto Koffi (Togo) Fourth official: Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania) Video assistant referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya) Assistant video assistant referee: Haytem Guirat (Tunisia)
Ghana vs Cape Verde Ghana and Cape Verde met for the sixth time ever, and this was their first encounter since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which Ghana won 2–0. In addition, Ghana also defeated Cape Verde twice during qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, including a 4–0 win in Cape Verde. This outcome secured Ghana's qualification for a FIFA World Cup for the first time in the nation's history.
Jamiro Monteiro shocked the Ghanaians in the 17th minute by tapping into an empty net after Richard Ofori palmed Jovane Cabral’s fierce first-time effort into the goalscorer’s path. After being ruled out of an equaliser from Ransford Yeboah for offside before half-time, within 15 minutes of the restart, Alexander Djiku capitalised from the corner kick, bundled into the bottom corner to restore parity. However, feckless defending doomed the Ghanaians in the second minute of extra time, when Garry Rodrigues capitalized from Ghanaian errors to slot into an empty net for the shock win.
GK 1 Richard Ofori (c)RB 3 Denis OdoiCB 23Alexander Djiku CB 6 Mohammed SalisuLB 14Gideon MensahCM 26Iddrisu Baba CM 8 Majeed Ashimeru RW 25Antoine Semenyo AM 7 Ransford Yeboah LW 13Joseph Paintsil CF 9 Jordan Ayew Substitutions:FW 10André Ayew FW 24Ernest Nuamah FW 19Iñaki Williams MF 21Salis Abdul Samed FW 11Osman Bukari Manager: Chris Hughton GK 1 VozinhaRB 26Kevin PinaCB 5 Logan CostaCB 4 PicoLB 7 Jovane Cabral CM 14Deroy Duarte CM 8 João PauloCM 10Jamiro Monteiro RF 23Steven MoreiraCF 20Ryan Mendes (c) LF 21Bebé Substitutions:MF 18Kenny Rocha FW 11Garry Rodrigues FW 17Willy Semedo MF 15Laros Duarte FW 9 Gilson Tavares Manager:Bubista Man of the Match: Alexander Djiku (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Elvis Noupue (Cameroon) Abelmiro dos Reis (São Tomé and Príncipe) Fourth official: Ahmed Heerelal (Mauritius) Video assistant referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria) Assistant video assistant referee: Mokrane Gourari (Algeria)
Egypt vs Ghana Egypt and Ghana met for the first time since a 1–1 draw on 12 November 2017, in the teams' group stage finale for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. In addition, the nations also met at four previous editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, with the most recent being a group stage finale in 2017, when Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the match in Port-Gentil, Gabon to give Egypt the 1–0 victory; coupled with Mali's 1–1 draw against Uganda, Ghana advanced to the knockout stage with Egypt. Ghana last defeated Egypt in 2013, winning 6–1 in the first leg of a playoff to determine who would qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
After a scoreless first 45 minutes, in first-half stoppage time Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah was injured, and within that time, Mohammed Kudus received a pass 25 yards from goal, shifted the ball away from Omar Marmoush and lashed in superbly to give Mohamed El Shenawy no chance. After Mohamed Abdelmonem got his equalizer ruled out for offside, Marmoush redeemed at the 69th minute by pouncing on an awful backpass by Iñaki Williams, rounding Richard Ofori and tucking home with aplomb. Kudus immediately responded by restoring parity just two minutes later with a deflecting shot from a failed Abdelmonem's clearance. Still, Ghana's lead was squandered just three minutes later when Trézéguet dispatched the ball from Osman Bukari, before cutting for Mostafa Mohamed to slot in to end the manic thriller to a draw.
GK 16Mohamed El ShenawyRB 4 Omar Kamal CB 24Mohamed Abdelmonem CB 6 Ahmed HegaziLB 12Mohamed HamdyDM 17Mohamed Elneny DM 5 Hamdy FathyCM 8 Emam AshourRF 10Mohamed Salah (c) CF 19Mostafa MohamedLF 22Omar Marmoush Substitutions:FW 18Mostafa Fathi FW 7 Trézéguet MF 14Marwan Attia Manager: Rui Vitória GK 1 Richard Ofori (c)RB 3 Denis OdoiCB 23Alexander DjikuCB 6 Mohammed SalisuLB 14Gideon MensahCM 21Salis Abdul Samed CM 8 Majeed Ashimeru RW 25Antoine SemenyoAM 20Mohammed KudusLW 19Iñaki Williams CF 9 Jordan AyewSubstitutions:MF 26Iddrisu Baba FW 11Osman Bukari MF 15Elisha Owusu FW 13Joseph Paintsil Manager: Chris Hughton Man of the Match: Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Boris Ditsoga (Gabon) Carine Atezambong (Cameroon) Fourth official: Tanguy Mebiame (Gabon) Video assistant referee: Issa Sy (Senegal) Assistant video assistant referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Cape Verde vs Mozambique Cape Verde and Mozambique met for the fifth time, as the previous four encounters involved qualifying matches for the Africa Cup of Nations. Both nations were drawn into Group F for qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (along with Niger and Zambia), and the nations met twice in five days in October 2014. Mozambique, who had two draws coming into this match, won 2–0 in the first meeting against Cape Verde, who had opened qualifying with two victories, on 11 October 2014. In the return match on 15 October, Cape Verde got a 79th-minute goal from Heldon, which happened to be the match's only goal; coupled with other results, Cape Verde was one of two nations to secure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The nations also met during qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with the team's first meeting being a 2–2 draw in Praia; Cape Verde had been winning until they allowed a stoppage-time goal in that match. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the other match to be delayed. When the teams met again on 30 March 2021, it was another 1–0 victory for Cape Verde (this one, courtesy of an own goal from Mozambique's Faizal Bangal) that secured Cape Verde's qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Cape Verde got off to a perfect start when Bebé produced a long-range set-piece shot to the net to give the Cape Verdeans the lead. In the 51st minute, Edmilson Dove's effort to hold the ball was intercepted by Ryan Mendes before Mendes doubled the West Africans' lead. Kevin Pina then ended any Mozambican hope for a comeback with a long-range shot.
This result meant Cape Verde advanced past the group stage in three out of four AFCON they had participated in.
GK 1 VozinhaRB 26Kevin PinaCB 5 Logan CostaCB 4 PicoLB 7 Jovane Cabral CM 14Deroy Duarte CM 10Jamiro Monteiro CM 8 João PauloRF 23Steven Moreira CF 20Ryan Mendes (c)LF 21Bebé Substitutions:FW 17Willy Semedo FW 9Gilson Tavares FW 11Garry Rodrigues MF 18Kenny Rocha MF 13Cuca Manager:Bubista GK 1 Ernan SiluaneRB 14Domingos CB 17Mexer (c)CB 8 Edmilson DoveLB 15Reinildo MandavaRM 20Geny CatamoCM 21GuimaCM 16Alfons Amade LM 5 Bruno Langa SS 19Witi CF 13Stanley Ratifo Substitutions:MF 7Domingues FW 9Lau King MF 23Shaquille FW 18Gildo DF 2Nanani Manager:Chiquinho Conde Man of the Match: Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde)
Assistant referees: Lahcen Azgaou (Morocco) Mustapha Akerkad (Morocco) Fourth official: Jalal Jiyed (Morocco) Video assistant referee: Redouane Jiyed (Morocco) Assistant video assistant referee: Zakaria Brinssi (Morocco)
Mozambique vs Ghana Ghana and Mozambique met for the sixth time, with the first meeting coming in the final group matchday of the 1996 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, with Ghana winning 2–0. The two nations also met during qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, playing twice in four days in March 2016.
The Black Stars were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute after Joseph Paintsil was fouled by Nanani and Mexer in the penalty area. Jordan Ayew converted successfully. The situation became more favourable for the Ghanaians when from an attack in the 66th minute, Reinildo Mandava handled a shot from Mohammed Kudus, leading to another penalty which Jordan Ayew again converted. However, André Ayew's handball won the Mozambicans a penalty themselves, scored by Geny Catamo in the first minute of stoppage time. Three minutes later, a corner kick coming from Richard Ofori's mishandling of the ball resulted in a header from Mandava, which tied the score but it proved to be futile as Mozambique crashed out; however, the draw also left Ghana in despair as they had to wait until the final matches, with their elimination confirmed the day after.
GK 22Ivane UrrubalCB 2 Nanani CB 17Mexer (c) CB 15Reinildo Mandava DM 4 Nené CM 21Guima CM 16Alfons Amade RW 20Geny Catamo LW 5 Bruno LangaSS 19Witi CF 9 Lau King Substitutions:FW 18Gildo FW 13Stanley Ratifo MF 7 Domingues MF 11João Bonde MF 23Shaquille Manager:Chiquinho Conde GK 1 Richard Ofori (c)RB 3 Denis Odoi CB 23Alexander Djiku CB 6 Mohammed SalisuLB 14Gideon MensahCM 21Salis Abdul SamedCM 8 Majeed Ashimeru RW 25Antoine Semenyo AM 20Mohammed Kudus LW 13Joseph Paintsil CF 9 Jordan Ayew Substitutions:MF 26Iddrisu Baba FW 10André Ayew DF 2 Alidu Seidu DF 18Daniel Amartey FW 19Iñaki Williams Manager: Chris Hughton
Man of the Match: Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Djibril Camara (Senegal) Abbes Zerhouni (Algeria) Fourth official: Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda) Video assistant referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria) Assistant video assistant referee: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)
Cape Verde vs Egypt Cape Verde and Egypt met for the first time ever in this group stage finale.