Garry Rodrigues’ 92nd-minute strike condemned four-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Ghana to defeat in their opening Group B game of the 2023 tournament on a day of surprise results in Ivory Coast.
Jamiro Monteiro had put the islanders ahead and Ghana then had a goal ruled out for offside before half-time.
Alexander Djiku did equalize with a stooping header, but Ghana keeper Richard Ofori made two big saves before Rodrigues pounced to grab victory
Winger Rodrigues pounced following calamitous Black Stars defending to give the 73rd-ranked team in the world a dramatic victory has extended Ghana’s poor run to one win in six matches, with Alexander Djiku’s second-half equalizer the only goal they have scored across those games.
The West Africans suffered a group stage exit at the 2021 finals, while Cape Verde reached the last 16 before falling to eventual champions Senegal, and recent performances and results from Chris Hughton’s Black Stars have been underwhelming
Following Rodrigues’ late heroics, Ghana faces a difficult assignment against Egypt in their second Group B outing on Thursday before Cape Verde takes on Mozambique the following day.
