Injured Mohamed Salah watched from the stands as Egypt played out a crazy 2-2 draw with Cape Verde at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday (Jan 22), a third consecutive stalemate that was enough to clinch a spot in the last 16.
Egypt made it through to the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations after drawing 2-2 with Cape Verde following a dramatic finale to Group B in Abidjan.
Egypt had looked set to finish third behind the Blue Sharks and Ghana before stoppage-time goals in both games. Egypt forward Mostafa Mohamed netted what looked to be a 93rd-minute winner. However, Cape Verde levelled six minutes later and Egypt secured second spot as Ghana threw away a 2-0 lead in added time against Mozambique.
Rui Vitoria's side will face the second-placed finisher in Group F in the last 16 on Sunday (20:00 GMT).
Egypt, with the injured Mohamed Salah watching on, trailed at the break through Benchimol's smart finish but half-time substitute Trezeguet volleyed them level in the 50th minute.
Egypt had known victory would be good enough to send them through in second place and, with Ghana leading Mozambique, they celebrated wildly after Mohamed lobbed Vozinha to put them 2-1 up in added time. But drama followed after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) sent match official Alhadi Mahamat to his pitchside monitor to rule whether Mohamed had controlled Trezeguet's ball forward with his chest or hand. The Chadian official eventually confirmed the goal, yet Egypt almost threw away all their hard work when Bryan Teixeira fired in from a narrow angle.
However, Ghana had somehow conspired to concede a 91st-minute penalty and a 94th-minute equaliser against Mozambique, which meant Egypt progressed to the knockout stages despite drawing all three group games in Ivory Coast.
