In a nail-biting turn of events, Ghana witnessed a heart-wrenching 2-2 draw against Mozambique, squandering a 2-0 lead in the dying moments of the match. The result sees Ghana drop into third place in Group B with two points, putting their chances of progressing to the second round in jeopardy. Their fate now hinges on being among the best-ranked four teams from all groups. In a surprising twist, Egypt, a seven-time record winner, also faced late drama, conceding in the last minute to draw against Cape Verde. The underdog, Cape Verde, emerged as the unexpected group winners with 7 points, defying pre-tournament predictions. Cape Verde, who secured a lucky 2-1 win over Ghana in the opening match, continued their impressive run by defeating Mozambique 3-0 in their second match. In the final group encounter against Egypt, Cape Verde took an early lead but relinquished it. In the 99th minute, they equalized to share the spoils and clinch the top spot in Group B. However, the real theatrics unfolded in Ghana's match, played simultaneously. Ghana took an early lead in the first half, heading into the break 1-0 up. Doubling their advantage in the second half, victory seemed imminent. Yet, with 90 minutes elapsed, Mozambique mounted a surprise comeback, reducing the deficit from the spot in the 91st minute and securing an equalizer in the 94th minute. Ghana's failure to maintain their lead means they face a daunting task to progress. Even a backdoor entry to the next round would require a miraculous turn of events, with Ghana relying on results from other groups. With a negative goal count and 2 points to their name after three games, Ghana's hopes rest on teams like Zambia and Algeria losing by significant margins in Group F and D. The road to the knockout stage appears challenging for the four-time African Cup of Nations winners.