In a heartbreaking revelation, a woman from Tema has shared the harrowing details of her husband’s sudden demise during the Mozambique vs. Ghana game at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The unfortunate incident occurred as the Black Stars faced a disappointing run in the tournament.
The grieving widow, who chose to remain anonymous, spoke exclusively to Accra-based Happy FM about the tragic ordeal. She disclosed that her late husband, an avid football enthusiast, was fervently following the Mozambique vs. Ghana game when the unexpected tragedy unfolded.
Describing her husband’s passionate involvement in the match, she explained how he animatedly switched between channels to keep tabs on the simultaneous Cape Verde vs. Egypt game. The deceased, known for being an ardent follower of local teams Hearts and Kotoko, exhibited intense emotions during the game.
“He was watching the Mozambique vs. Ghana game. During the game, he kept on shouting and making gestures. He even threatened to sack the coach,” she recounted.
“At some point, the station changed to the Egypt versus Cape Verde game. He wanted Cape Verde to beat Egypt, so whenever Cape Verde got the ball, he kept on encouraging them to push ahead and score.”
Tragically, amidst the emotional rollercoaster of the match, the woman’s husband collapsed. Despite swift efforts to seek medical attention, he succumbed to the sudden event at the Tema General Hospital.
The shocking incident adds a somber note to Ghana’s disappointing AFCON campaign, where the Black Stars failed to secure a victory. They earned only two points in Group B having drawn 2-2 against Mozambique in their final group game. They had earlier lost to Cape Verde and drawn 2-2 with Egypt in preceding games.
Mozambique vs. Ghana
The Black Stars needed a win against the Mambas to proceed to the round of 16 of the AFCON. Having taken a 2-0 lead against their opponents they squandered the advantage. An 89th-minute penalty through a handball by Andre Ayew saw Mozambique pull one back.
However, a costly error by Richard Ofori, the goalkeeper who conceded an avoidable corner kick turned the game around. The Orlando Pirates shot-stopper appeared confused as he mistakenly tipped the ball over the line instead of grabbing it. The resulting corner emerged as the decisive moment as their opponents scored from it to tie the game.