Tournament hopefuls Nigeria and Egypt were both held to draws in their opening games at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea
Nigeria failed to overcome Equatorial Guinea as the two sides drew 1-1 at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe.
Ivan Salvador opened the scoring on 36 minutes, while Super Eagles hitman Victor Osimhen fired back almost immediately as he restored parity with his equaliser just two minutes later.
Zaidu Sanusi had lifted an early chance over the crossbar for Nigeria before Osimhen spurned a good opportunity to open the scoring early on as he headed Ola Aina’s delivery wide.
Jesus Owono tipped a low drive from Moses Simon onto his left-hand upright just before half-time and remained busy for the rest of the tie as the two teams settled for a point.
The stalemate means both sides are currently two points behind Ivory Coast, with Equatorial Guinea in second above Nigeria on goal difference.
Egypt 2-2 Mozambique
Egypt rescued a point from their Group B encounter with Mozambique on Sunday evening.
Mostafa Mohamed opened the scoring at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on just two minutes but the Pharaohs failed to build on their lead and conceded to Witi with ten second-half minutes played.
Clesio Bauque then quickly doubled Mozambique’s lead just three minutes later and it looked as if Egypt would start their campaign with a loss, until Mohamed Salah converted a 97th minute penalty.
Egypt top their group with one point; ahead of Mozambique on goal difference, prior to Ghana’s clash with Cape Verde.