A last-minute goal by substitute Ahmed Rayan completed Egypt’s comeback in their second Group A game against Ghana at the Cairo International Stadium on Monday.
Ghana took the lead twice in the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations game but pressure from the hosts saw them equalise on both occasions.
A set-piece in the 88th minute saw Rayan rise above all in the penalty box to head the ball past goalkeeper Kwame Baah for the all-important winner.
The 3-2 win sees the North Africans through to the semi-final with a final game against Cameroon to spare.
Ghana would have to beat Mali in the final group game in order to stand a chance of making it to the next stage.
The Black Meteors, having drawn their first game with Cameroon, started perfectly as captain Yaw Yeboah tapped in a Samuel Obeng cross in just the 6th minute.
But the hosts’ determination to draw level saw them attack the Meteors heavily, firing from all cylinders.
Mostapha Mohammed gave the crowd what they were yearning for as he completed a quick attack with a glancing header for the equaliser in the 17th minute.
Though the score stayed the same, the Ghanaians had the upper hand in terms of possession.
The start of the second half was a perfect one for the Meteors as a defensive error gifted Obeng his first goal in the tournament as he rounded the Egyptian goalie to slot home.
With defeat staring them in the face, the Egyptians lifted their game and the pressure.
Captain Ramadan, who won the Man of the Match award, was quicker in the box as Kwame Baah failed to clear a goal-bound shot.
It was a Ramadan-led display from the second equaliser as his cornerkick found the head of Rayan with just two minutes to end the game.
The final group matches will be played on Thursday.
Egypt top Group A with six points with Cameroon in second place on four points.
With one point, Ghana lie second and go into Thursday’s game with Mali as a do-or-die encounter.
Mali are yet to score at this tournament. They lost 0-1 earlier in the day to Cameroon.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana