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Cape Verde shocked Ghana with a late winner, recording a 2-1 victory in their opening AFCON 2023 match on Sunday.

The island country started the game strongly and found themselves ahead when Jamiro Monteiro scored in the 17th minute.

However, the Blacks Stars leveled game in the 56th minute through 29-year-old Fenerbahçe centre-back Alexander Djiku.

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After a strong showing by Cape Verde who had more possession and more attempts on target, they found that stunning late winner.

Ankaragücü winger Garry Rodriguez was left unmarked when he received the ball from Benchimol following a defensive blunder. It was a simple goal for the 33-year-old former Galatasaray player who rolled the ball into the net.

The last time Ghana and Cape Verde met, the former emerged 2-0 winners in the quarter-finals of the 2013 AFCON tournament.

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Ghana have won the AFCON in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982. It’s obvious their last 16 AFCON appearances have seen them without a continental title. So, losing their first game of this tournament serves as a big blow.

It’s been a poor run in the AFCON for Ghana in recent years. The West African nation have won just one of their last nine matches. They were also eliminated in the group stages of the last edition in Cameroon.

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Cape Verde are unbeaten in all their opening matches at AFCON tournaments – one win and two draws.