Underdogs Benin hit back to secure a 2-2 draw with 10-man Ghana after the Black Stars had a player sent off for time-wasting in bizarre circumstances at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, describes Reuters.
Michael Pote gave Benin a shock second-minute lead in the Group F match before goals from brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew put Ghana 2-1 ahead at halftime of an entertaining, end-to-end contest.
But Ghana were stunned in the 55th minute when defender John Boye, already booked, stepped up to take a free kick inside his own half, moved away to let goalkeeper Richard Ofori take it and was given a second yellow card.
It seemed no more than a misunderstanding, was extremely harsh and was also the first sending-off of the tournament.
Pote then equalised for Benin with his second of the night in the 64th minute.
The Squirrels were in front after two minutes, Pote racing onto a ball threaded through from midfield before slipping past his marker and firing his shot under Ofori.
Ghana replied with a goal from their first attack seven minutes later. Jordan Ayew ran onto a pass over the top and laid the ball off to his brother Andre who made space before firing a snapshot into the net.
Ghana, looking more dangerous, went ahead three minutes before halftime. Kasim Adams picked out Jordan Ayew from the halfway line and the younger of the two brothers slipped passed Olivier Verdon and fired into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
At that point, the game seemed to be up for Benin but Boye’s dismissal changed the complexion of the game, prompting Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah to bring off Samuel Owusu — himself a first-half substitute for the injured Thomas Agyepong — and bring on Jonathan Mensah.
Benin’s equaliser came from a short corner as Pote diverted Cebio Soukou’s low cross into the net.
Five-times winners and holders Cameroon put a pre-tournament pay dispute behind them to beat rank outsiders Guinea Bissau 2-0 in their opening match at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.
The Indomitable Lions took more than an hour to break down stubborn resistance before Yaya Banana and substitute Stephane Bahoken scored in a three-minute spell to give Clarence Seedorf’s side a winning start in Group F.
Banana headed in at the far post from a corner in the 66th minute before Bahoken, who only entered the pitch one minute earlier, reacted quickly to turn the ball in after it rebounded to him.
Cameroon’s players refused to board their flight for Egypt due to a dispute over bonuses last Thursday and eventually travelled the following day despite saying they were still not satisfied..
Cameroon dominated the first half but found it difficult to find a way past the Guinea Bissau defence and were not helped by wayward finishing from Christian Bassogog.
He fired wide after escaping the defence in the seventh minute and miscued specularly after Karl Toko pulled the ball back from the byline to leave him with an open goal just after the half hour.
Cameroon turned the screw after halftime, creating a series of chances, although they also survived a couple of scares.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana kicked a clearance straight at Frederic Mendy but it rebounded wide and Guinea Bissau, who made their debut at the tournament in Gabon two years ago, went agonisingly close when Sori Mane’s long-range shot was centimetres over.
The deadlock was finally broken when Guinea Bissau goalkeeper Jonas Mendes was caught in no-man’s land at a corner and Banana headed in at the far post.
The second quickly followed as Ambroise Oyongo’s cross was headed away by Rudinilson Silva but bounced off Mane and went straight to Bahoken who turned it into the net from six metres.
Piqueti Silva headed against the post for Guinea Bissau as they again went close to getting on the scoresheet.