There was AFCON joy for Shamrock Rovers defender Pico Lopes as his Cape Verde side stunned Chris Hughton's Ghana with an injury-time winner in their Group B opener at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Garry Rodrigues took advantage of a mix-up in the Ghana defence to tap the ball into an empty net and give his side a deserved victory in Abidjan.
Jamiro Monteiro had put the islanders ahead in the 17th minute and Ghana had a goal ruled out by the VAR before Alexander Djiku got them back on level terms with a stooping header, 10 minutes into the second half.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori made two vital saves before substitute Rodrigues pounced at the death to secure all three points.
It was another disappointing result for the Black Stars, who last won the title in 1982 and failed to get out of the group stages in 2021.
A famous win for @fcfcomunica 🇨🇻
— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) January 14, 2024
Congratulations, @picolopes 👏🏻#AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/O9NjRkU7W7
Hughton's side were without West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus due to injury but it was defensive lapses which proved costly and Monteiro was left with a simple tap-in to open the scoring after Ofori palmed a shot from Jovane Cabral straight into his path.
Ghana thought they had equalised in the 36th minute when Majeed Ashimeru rifled a superb long-range strike into the bottom corner, only for it to be ruled out following a lengthy VAR check.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo eventually decided that Ransford Konigsdorffer, who had unwittingly hit the post moments earlier when the ball was palmed onto his head by Vozinha, was blocking the view of the goalkeeper inside the area.
Djiku did equalise in the 56th minute as he headed home Jordan Ayew’s corner and the defender also produced a vital block at the other end from Bebe’s scuffed shot.
But just as the game looked set to fizzle out, Gilson Benchimol took advantage of a blunder from Mohammed Salisu to nip in front of Ofori and set up Rodrigues for the easiest of winners.
Mo Salah scored a stoppage-time penalty as Egypt salvaged a 2-2 draw with Mozambique in their opener.
The seven-time AFCON champions took an early lead through Mostafa Mohamed, only for Mozambique to turn the game on its head with two goals in four second-half minutes through Witi and Clesio.
But Mozambique's hopes of an historic win were crushed seven minutes into added time when Salah converted from the spot after a VAR check ruled there had been a foul on Mohamed.
Egypt were straight out of the blocks and went ahead just two minutes in. A cross found Salah and the Liverpool forward's mis-hit his shot allowed Mohamed to pounce on the ball, neatly turning around Edmilson Dove and firing low into the bottom corner.
They nearly doubled their lead when Salah broke from a Mozambique attack and threaded the ball to Mohamed, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
Witi went close when he sliced his shot wide before Egypt had another great chance to extend advantage lead as Mahmoud Trezeguet smashed the ball off the post.
Mohamed El Shenawy had to react following a poor attempted clearance from Mohamed Hamdy, the Pharaohs goalkeeper clawing the ball over the bar to maintain his side's lead.
Mozambique continued to push in the second half, though, and got their reward in the 55th minute when Domingos Macandza's cross picked out Witi, who headed into the bottom corner, with El Shenawy getting a hand to the ball but unable to keep it out.
The Mambas then took the lead three minutes later when, after a good team move, Clesio evaded Ahmed Hegazi's tackle and burst through the middle before coolly slotting past El Shenawy.
Zizo blasted wide for Egypt from outside the box and they continued to push for the equaliser, Hamdy Fathy flicking the ball past the post before an unmarked Salah sliced wide.
And Mozambique's hopes of a famous triumph were finally dashed deep into stopage time, when Egypt were awarded a late penalty following a VAR check for a foul on Mohamed and Salah fired home from the spot.
Victor Osimhen scored a first half equaliser but wasteful Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw in their Group A opener with Equatorial Guinea in a steamy Abidjan, unable to turn their pressure into three points.
Iban Salvador netted a surprise opener for Equatorial Guinea against the run of play with a well-worked goal, but the lead lasted only two minutes before Napoli forward Osimhen headed Nigeria level.
The west African side dominated the chances after that but found Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono in fine form as he made several outstanding saves, to go with some poor finishing.
Nigeria next meet hosts Ivory Coast in a potentially crucial pool clash on Thursday, while Equatorial Guinea face Guinea-Bissau, who lost 2-0 to the Ivorians in Saturday's tournament opening game.
