The curtains fell on Wednesday evening on the inaugural round of group-stage matches at the Africa Cup of Nations 2023, hosted in Côte d’Ivoire, with fixtures scheduled until February 11.
The first round of matches was marked by intense competition and spirited clashes on the field, vividly illustrating the closely contested nature of this continental competition.
In Group A, the Ivorian national team, playing on home turf, initiated their campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.
Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea surprised all by securing a 1-1 draw against Nigeria, setting the tone for unexpected outcomes in the tournament.
Egypt, in Group B, faced an unexpected stumbling block in their opening match, settling for a 2-2 draw against Mozambique.
In contrast, Cape Verde claimed an unexpected lead by defeating Ghana 2-1, defying pre-tournament predictions.
Group C witnessed defending champions Senegal assert their dominance with a commanding 3-0 victory over Gambia.
Meanwhile, Cameroon settled for a 1-1 draw against Guinea, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of the competition.
Algeria, in Group D, missed out on securing three points in their opener against Angola, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Burkina Faso managed to snatch a last-minute 1-0 victory against Mauritania, temporarily topping the group standings.
Namibia caused a significant upset in Group E, securing their first-ever win in the history of their participation in the African Cup of Nations by defeating Tunisia 1-0.
Additionally, Mali triumphed over South Africa with a comfortable 2-0 scoreline, placing them at the summit of the group based on goal difference.
In Group F, Morocco distinguished itself by clinching a resounding 3-0 victory against Tanzania.
The result positions Morocco as a formidable contender for the continental title.
The encounter between Congo and Zambia concluded with a 1-1 draw, leaving both teams with a point each.
As the second round of group-stage matches unfolds on Thursday, featuring clashes between Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, as well as Côte d’Ivoire against Nigeria, anticipation heightens for further thrilling encounters in this riveting edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The current tournament comprises 24 teams divided into six groups, with the top two from each group and the best four third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage.
