By
Eniola Olatunji

The 3rd round matches of Group B in the African Cup of Nations on Monday night produced volatile moments of what Africans call DOD EAT DOGS in the sense of the PULL HIM DOWN SYNDROME as the Black Stars that were already celebrating qualification conceded two added time goals to get dimmed out of the Tournament. 

The match between Ghana and Mozambique was highly pulsating as three of the four goals scored were via penalty kicks. Jordan Ayew scored the two goals of Ghana through penalty. First in the 15th minute and the second one a controversial decision in the 70th minute.
 
The Mozambican players protested vigorously and even threatened a walk out in the scenario that made Libyan Ref, Mutaz Ibrahim who did not consult VAR for the second penalty to Ghana flash the yellow cards to Capt Maxer and his team mate Mandava.

Journalists were monitoring the other match between Egypt that was leading Cape Verde by a lone goal and we were concluding a Ghana qualification but the frustrated Mambas of Mozambique got their first goal when Captain Dede Ayew playing his 8th AFCON tournament handled the ball in the penalty box and Geney Catamo scored in 90+1 minute.

Live went out of the Ghanain players when a corner kick came for Mozambique and an inswinger found Athletico Madrid player, Reinildo Mandava who scored a neat goal quickly approved by the Ref and unchallenged by VAR.

Reporters confusion were increased as Cape Verde scored first against Egypt making everybody think Egypt was on her way out. Mandas pushed an assist to Gilson Tavares of Benefica of Portugal who scored 45+1 minute. 

Egypt equalized when Mahmoud Hassan known as Trezeguet after the legendary David Trezeguet who was his his coach as a youth player struck in the 50th minute. He was instrumental to the second goal of Egypt finding Mostafa Mohammed who scored 90+3 minute only for Bryan Silva Teixeira Jnr to equalize in the 90+9 minute.

My Reporters’ Notebook cannot be presented to student reporters because of too many cancellations as I monitored the two venues. 

Finally, Cape Verde topped Group B with 7 points scoring 7 goals and conceding 3 goals with +4 goals difference; Egypt climbed to the 2nd position with 3 points scoring 6 goals and conceding 6 goals; Ghana chalked only 2 points from two draws scoring 5 goals and conceding 6 goals with a -1 deficit and Mozambique too got 2 points scoring 4 goals and conceding 7 goals posting -3 goals deficit. So Cape Verde and Egypt are through while both Ghana and Mozambique goes home.   

Egypt ranked 33 in the world and Cape Verde ranked 73 have no record of previous encounter.

The Black Stars of Ghana and Mozambique met twice before both in AFCON Qualifiers. Playing at Accra Ghana whipped Mozambique 3-1 on 24th March 2016 and in the second leg hosting Mozambique earned a goalless draw on 27th March 2016.

Nigeria will play the runners up in Group C at Houphouet Boigny Stadium on 27th January at 9pm; Cape Verde will play 3rd group A/D at the Boigny Stadium on 29th; Egypt will play the runners-up of Group F at San Pedro on 28th January and Equatorial Guinea will meet 3rd in group C/D. Senegal that has qualified will wait to meet Guinea in group C tomorrow to know who tops the group.