What are the latest updates?
Heading into their final group game bottom of Group B, with one point from their first two games, Ghana and Ayew were aware that a win would – in all likelihood – see them through, with a draw leaving them dependent on other results, and defeat eliminating them.
Taking on Mozambique on Monday evening, Ayew – on the occasion of his 97th cap – stepped up to the mantle.
The Palace forward was on hand to give his side a valuable 2-0 lead either side of half-time, netting his 20th and 21st goals for his country – both from the penalty spot, after Joseph Paintsil was felled and Reinildo Mandava handballed.
But with the game heading into injury time and Ghana looking set to all-but-seal their place in the next round, two late Mozambique goals – the first a Geny Catamo penalty, the latter a Mandava header – saw Ghana and Ayew suffer late heartbreak.
While the 2-2 draw does not eliminate the Black Stars, as they can still mathematically advance with two points as one of the best third-placed sides, they will require up to seven other results to go their way in the next two days, with a second successive group-stage elimination highly probable.
