Tops
To discover
- Africa Cup of Nations: fixtures and results
- Africa Cup of Nations Standings
The Cape Verdean collective already well established
From the kick-off, Cape Verde controlled the game perfectly, adopting an attacking approach and showing their eagerness to take control of the game. This strategy may have caught Ghana off guard, as they never really reacted and spent most of the game chasing the ball.
Alexander Djiku, man of the match for Ghana
The former Strasbourg defender, now at Fenerbahce, put in a highly convincing performance. Despite receiving a warning at the start of the match (11'), the 29-year-old defender did not hesitate to make decisive tackles in the box, including the one in the 67th minute, which probably prevented a second early goal from Cape Verde. Despite his headed goal and excellent defensive performance, it was ultimately not enough for the Black Stars.
Refereeing, wise choices for a fluid game
Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo, the Congolese referee, masterfully directed the match, facing sometimes difficult decisions. Despite his goal being disallowed after a video review, this emblematic referee figure of African football often chose to let the game take place, to the delight of spectators and television viewers.
Read alsoAFCON: Cape Verde creates a sensation by dominating Ghana
Flops
Mohammed Salisu, a blunder and then goes away
The AS Monaco centre-back made a fatal mistake at the end of the match: a clumsy reception of the ball directly to Benchimol in his own area, resulting in the last goal of the game scored by Garry Rodrigues.
Antoine Semenyo: little found, first out
The Ghanaian striker, who has scored just twice in 15 games for his national team, did not shine as a centre-forward for Ghana, as did the Ghanaian attack, which clearly lacked collective action on Sunday. The Bournemouth striker didn't offer enough solutions, and his lack of influence in this game was one of the reasons for the final result.