AFCON 2023 Matchday 2 TOTW: Kudus the architect joins hat-trick hero Nsue as top performers
The second matchday of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) has come and gone! This series of matches gives a clear picture of the teams advancing to the round of 16. However, unlike matchday one, this round paraded an influx of players who gave out beautiful performances as the African showpiece event became more competitive day by day.
Using Sofascore ratings, we analysed the best performers of the round using 3-4-3 formation.
Between the sticks, Vozinha of Cape Verde was the hero of the hour as the Blue Sharks trounced the Mambas of Mozambique with three unreplied goals at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The 37-year-old made two crucial saves, a punch, and two high claims for the Islanders.
Guinea’s Mouctar Diakhaby stood his ground against Gambia, as the Elephants defeated the Scorpions by a lone goal courtesy of a 69th-minute strike by Aguibou Camara. The right full-back had five clearances, one each for block, interception, and tackle.
Sport-loving Nigerians must have William Troost-Ekong to thank for giving the Super Eagles maximum points against the hosts, Côte d’Ivoire. The PAOK centre-back scored a 55th-minute penalty goal against the Elephants, and made four clearances, along with two tackles and interceptions, which was a plus for the 30-year-old to make the team of the week.
Gambia’s Omar Colley did what he could for his team against the Mambas, but his beautiful display was not enough for the Scorpions.
Mohammed Kudus continued his fine Premier League form in AFCON, scoring a brace for the Black Stars of Ghana against the Pharaohs of Egypt in a 2-2 draw. Angola’s Gelson Dala also bagged two goals for the Sable Antelopes in a 3-2 win against Mauritania. Both players charted their paths in the AFCON matchday two teams of the week.
Omar Marmoush was among the players who gave his best for the Pharaohs, as they shared the spoils against their Ghanaian counterparts. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder scored the 69th-minute goal that cancelled Kudus’ first-half goal.
Emilio Nsue was the town’s song, as he scored a treble for Equatorial Guinea in a 4-2 win against Guinea-Bissau. It was the first hat-trick since the 2008 edition of the AFCON. The 34-year-old striker is now the joint-top scorer in the ongoing AFCON 2023.
🚨| STAT ATTACK
Equatorial Guinea 4-1 Guinea-Bissau
Emilio Nsue becomes the first player to score a hattrick in AFCON since Morocco's Soufiane Alloidi against Namibia in January 2008, 5868 days ago.#EQGGNB#AFCONWithMIAS#AFCON2023 #CAN2023#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023
— Made In Africa Sport (@madeinafricaweb) January 18, 2024
While Mauritania’s Aboubakary Koita and Sidi Bouna scored in their 2-3 loss, their efforts weren’t enough. Their stellar performance earned them individual recognition in the team of the week, but it couldn’t save the day. In contrast, South Africa’s Themba Zwane enjoyed a triumphant day, scoring twice in their 4-0 demolition of Namibia.
AFCON 2023 Matchday 2 Team of The Week
