The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group stage came to a close on Wednesday night, with the final games in Group D unveiling Egypt and Ghana as the teams progressing through to the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Black Stars and the Pharaohs faced off in the final Group D match at the Stade de Port-Gentil in the Gabonese city of Port-Gentil on Wednesday evening, with the Egyptians emerging as 1-0 winners thanks to a sublime strike from Roma attacker Mohamed Salah.
The lone goal came early on, with a foul providing Egypt with the perfect opportunity to threaten the Ghanaian goal on 11 minutes.
The resulting free kick from the edge of the area was a cracker, with Salah unleashing an unstoppable thunderbolt into the top corner for a goal that would be well worth all three points on the night.
The win saw Egypt take their place at the top of Group D, with the Ghanaian’s joining their rivals in the quarter-finals after finishing second ahead of Mali and Uganda.
The Pharaohs will clash with Morocco in the quarter-finals, while the Black Stars are set for a battle against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the other Group D match on Wednesday night, Mali and Uganda drew 1-1 at the Stade d’Oyem, sharing the points and exiting the competition in the first round.
The second half would provide a few goals, and it was Uganda who would go ahead in the 68th minute, with Farouk Miya cracking a fiersome shot past Mali keeper Oumar Sissoko.
The lead would not last for long, however, and on 72 minutes Mali found an equaliser through Yves Bissouma.
It would end in the stalemate, with Uganda earning their first point after a return to the AFCON following a 39-year absence.
