he 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) commenced on January 13, 2024, in Ivory Coast, bringing together nations from across the continent in a quest for football supremacy. Here’s a review of the first group stage games:
Group A:
- Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea-Bissau: The host nation, Ivory Coast, began its campaign on a high note, securing a convincing 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.
- Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea: In a closely contested match, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea ended with a 1-1 draw, earning a point each.
Group A Standings:
- Ivory Coast: 3 points
- Equatorial Guinea: 1 point
- Nigeria: 1 point
- Guinea-Bissau: 0 points
Group B:
- Cape Verde 2-1 Ghana: Cape Verde pulled off a stunning upset by defeating Ghana 2-1.
- Egypt 2-2 Mozambique: Egypt faced a tough challenge from Mozambique, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
Group B Standings:
- Cape Verde: 3 points
- Egypt: 1 point
- Mozambique: 1 point
- Ghana: 0 points
Group C:
- Senegal 3-0 Gambia: Defending champions Senegal started their title defense with an emphatic 3-0 win over Gambia.
- Cameroon 1-1 Guinea: Cameroon and Guinea played to a 1-1 draw, sharing the points.
Group C Standings:
- Senegal: 3 points
- Cameroon: 1 point
- Guinea: 1 point
- Gambia: 0 points
Group D:
- Algeria 1-1 Angola: In a surprising turn of events, Algeria, one of the tournament favorites, was held to a 1-1 draw by Angola.
- Burkina Faso 1-0 Mauritania: Burkina Faso secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Mauritania.
Group D Standings:
- Burkina Faso: 3 points
- Algeria: 1 point
- Angola: 1 point
- Mauritania: 0 points
Group E:
- Tunisia 0-1 Namibia: Namibia caused a major upset by defeating Tunisia 1-0, marking their first-ever AFCON win.
- Mali 2-0 South Africa: Mali emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over South Africa.
Group E Standings:
- Mali: 3 points
- Namibia: 3 points
- Tunisia: 0 points
- South Africa: 0 points
The group stage has set the stage for thrilling encounters, unexpected outcomes, and intense battles as teams vie for a coveted spot in the knockout rounds of AFCON 2023. Football fans can anticipate more drama and excitement as the tournament progresses.
