In the other concurrent kickoff on the final evening of Group B action, Mozambique and Ghana also drew 2-2. The result helps neither side. CfR Pforzheim’s Stanley Ratifo (Mozambique) is headed home. Hamburger SV’s Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer is most likely following him.
Marmoush’s shift on this particular evening ended before the fireworks really got going. The SGE professional exited proceedings in the 83rd with the score deadlocked at 1-1. The two sides traded goals once again in second half injury time. The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde – who had opened the scoring in the first half – solidified first-place in the group with a dramatic late equalizer at 90+9. The former Stuttgart and Wolfsburg professional did incur his first booking of the tournament.
Further north in the city of Abidjan proper, the Group’s concurrent kickoff also ended in a 2-2 scoreline. German football’s fifth tier representative at the AFCON – Mozambique forward Stanley Ratifo of CfR Pforzheim – began the game on the bench after starting the first two fixtures. The 29-year-old former Köln academy man did come off the bench for an 18-minute shift near the end. Ratifo’s Mamba’s effectively ended Ghana’s hopes of avoiding group stage elimination in their second consecutive AFCON.
While not technically eliminated from the tournament, the Black Stars will need a great deal of assistance to punch through as one of the third-placed teams. Only a draw between Gambia and Cameroon on Tuesday and a win for Morocco over Zambia on Wednesday – with sufficient goal-differential which case the goal difference could even play a role – will see them through. While not technically eliminated from the tournament, the Black Stars will need a great deal of assistance to punch through as one of the third-placed teams.
Only a draw between Gambia and Cameroon on Tuesday and a win for Morocco over Zambia on Wednesday – with sufficient goal-differential which case the goal difference could even play a role – will see them through. Hosts Cote d’Ivoire can take some solace in the manner in which this group wrapped up. Their slim hopes of continuing a boosted slightly by Ghana’s fall.
