Comoros pulls off historic upset to knock out Ghana on AFCON debut
The tiny archipelago nation of Comoros pulled off one of the all-time great African Cup of Nations (AFCON) upsets with a 3-2 Group C victory over Ghana on Tuesday, dumping the four-time champion out of the tournament in Cameroon.
(CNN)The tiny archipelago federation of Comoros pulled disconnected 1 of the all-time large African Cup of Nations (AFCON) upsets with a 3-2 Group C triumph implicit Ghana connected Tuesday, dumping the four-time champion retired of the tourney successful Cameroon.
Having lone been admitted arsenic a subordinate of FIFA successful 2005, Africa's 4th smallest state -- ranked 132nd successful the satellite -- stunned a Ghanaian broadside dotted with Premier League stars connected their tourney debut to unafraid their archetypal ever AFCON win.
Ahmed Mogni's close-range decorativeness 5 minutes from clip decided a pulsating match, sparking euphoric dressing country scenes and giving Comoros a accidental to suffice for the knockout stages arsenic 1 of 4 best-ranked third-placed sides, should results successful the remaining undecided groups spell their way.
Comoros' elation serves arsenic a stark opposition to the ignominy of Ghana's defeat. The Black Stars -- whose spine included Leicester's Daniel Amartey, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and Crystal Palace guardant Jordan Ayew -- had not failed to advancement from the radical signifier successful 16 years.
The humiliating mode of exit volition heap unit connected manager Milovan Rajevac who, having led Ghana to wrong specified minutes of the World Cup semifinals successful 2010, was reappointed successful September past year.
The Serb indispensable present rally his squad up of the captious 3rd circular of Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers successful March, wherein Ghana volition beryllium successful cookware 2 of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) draw.
Stunned
Comoros had already made past conscionable 4 minutes into the lucifer erstwhile striker El Fardou Ben Nabouhane rifled a debased thrust past Ghanian goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott for the country's archetypal ever AFCON goal.
A nightmare commencement for the four-time victor was made adjacent worse erstwhile André Ayew was controversially sent disconnected for a situation connected Comoros goalkeeper Salim Ben Boina.
The Crystal Palace guardant collided with the shot-stopper pursuing an effort to pounce connected a spilled drawback from Ben Boina, who was subsequently taken disconnected injured and replaced by Ali Ahamada betwixt the sticks.
Comoros doubled its pb aft halftime erstwhile Mogni, having done brilliantly to enactment country from Partey, struck debased past Wollacott from conscionable wrong the container -- instigating a joyous choreographed radical solemnisation among the squad and substitutes.
Ghana responded astir instantly erstwhile Richmond Boakye nodded location from a country and were aboriginal level courtesy of different country conscionable implicit 10 minutes from clip erstwhile Alexander Djiku tapped successful Partey's header.
Yet the fairytale was not to beryllium denied -- Mogni converting Bendjaloud Youssouf's fizzing debased transverse to unafraid his brace and a historical triumph for the land nation.
More history
Another portion of AFCON past was made connected Tuesday, arsenic Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga headed an all-female officiating line-up during Zimbabwe's 2-1 triumph implicit Guinea successful Group B.
In doing so, Mukansanga, 35, became the archetypal pistillate to referee a lucifer astatine the tournament, with Cameroon's Carine Atemzabong and Morocco's Fatiha Jermoumi assisting. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) work was assumed by Jermoumi's compatriot, Bouchra Karboubi.
On January 10, Mukansanga had made past by becoming the archetypal pistillate to officiate an AFCON erstwhile she served arsenic a 4th authoritative successful Guinea's earlier radical crippled against Malawi.
CAF's Head of Referees, Eddy Maillet, said: "We are ace arrogant of Salima due to the fact that she has had to enactment exceptionally hard to beryllium wherever she is today.
"We cognize that for a woman, she has had to flooded superior obstacles to scope this level and she deserves a batch of credit.
"This infinitesimal is not conscionable for Salima but for each young miss successful Africa who has passionateness for shot and who sees herself arsenic a referee successful the future. "
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