Black Stars player ratings in their (2-2) draw against Egypt

The Black Stars of Ghana found themselves unable to capitalize on scoring twice, settling for a draw against the Pharaohs of Egypt in the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations.

Despite having a chance to ascend to the top of Group B, defensive blunders proved costly for Ghana as Egypt twice came back from a goal down, resulting in a stalemate. The match highlighted individual performances, with notable contributions from players on both sides.

Starting with the captain, Richard Ofori, he had a relatively calm game, receiving a rating of 5/10. The Black Stars skipper faced fewer challenges compared to the previous match against Cape Verde, with the backline successfully keeping the Egyptian attackers at bay.

Denis Odoi, the Club Brugge defender, had a less than stellar performance, earning a rating of 4/10. His flank became a primary target for the Egyptian attackers, and Odoi struggled throughout the match to contain them.

Gideon Mensah, tasked with facing Liverpool and Egyptian superstar Mohammed Salah, received a rating of 5/10. Despite the tough assignment, Mensah held his ground and gave a commendable performance in the first half.

Mohammed Salisu, the Monaco strongman in central defense, earned a solid 6/10. Ghana conceded two goals due to errors, but Salisu’s performance remained robust, with the central defense facing minimal threats from the Egyptian attackers.

Alexander Djiku, coming off a man-of-the-match performance against Cape Verde, maintained his good form with a rating of 6/10. Djiku made timely clearances that prevented the Black Stars from conceding in the dying minutes.

In the midfield, Salis Abdul Samed, chosen ahead of Baba Iddrisu, played a pivotal role, earning a rating of 6/10. The Lens midfielder served as the engine for the Black Stars, ensuring the center-back pairing of Djiku and Mohammed had little to do defensively.

Majeed Ashimeru stood out with a rating of 7/10, proving to be one of the brightest spots for the Black Stars. His timely take-ons created scoring opportunities in the first half, although the attackers couldn’t capitalize on them.

Mohammed Kudus, making a return from injury and having missed the opening game against Cape Verde, showcased his class with a remarkable rating of 9/10. The West Ham midfielder powered the Ghanaian attack, scoring a beautiful left-footed shot in injury time of the first half. Kudus continued his impact in the second half, contributing to Ghana’s second goal.

Inaki Williams, however, had a forgettable game, receiving a rating of 4/10. The winger was ineffective on the flanks, and an erratic back pass led to Egypt’s first equalizer in the second half.

Jordan Ayew, one of the experienced players in the team, earned a rating of 5/10. Ayew had a quiet game, lacking significant impact on the flanks and missing opportunities to pass to fellow Ghanaian forwards.

Antoine Semenyo put in a fair shift with a rating of 5/10. In a game where Ghana needed a decisive victory, Semenyo and his strike partner failed to find the back of the net.

Despite the individual performances, Ghana’s inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and defensive lapses resulted in a missed chance to secure a crucial victory.

The draw against Egypt leaves the Black Stars with work to do in their upcoming matches to advance in the tournament. As the African Cup of Nations unfolds, fans will be eagerly watching to see how Ghana rebounds from this encounter and if they can secure a place in the next stage of the competition.