As World Cup tournaments go, the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has not disappointed in terms of quality. A good number of major results were probably changed by controversial refereeing calls and disallowed goals, but there was certainly no shortage of entertaining football. Matchday 23 offered major fixtures — a good mix of dark horse sides and renowned heavyweights. First, Egypt faced underdogs Australia to advance via penalties. Then, perhaps the most anticipated fixture of the night
was newcomers Cabo Verde facing Argentina. Africa mourned the defeat of their own, as the underdogs lost by an extremely narrow margin. Following this is the story of another African nation facing a South American side — Ghana vs. Colombia.
An interesting outcome of these three games was that this saw the elimination of two of the three African sides. The group stage saw nine of the ten CAF representatives make it through — a glorious statistic. This statistic however met its unfortunate end tonight, as only two of those nine sides will be headed to the round of 16, and both via penalties! One of them was from tonight. Let’s talk about the goals that got Egypt across while sending Cabo Verde and Ghana back home.
Emam Ashour heads his team into the lead!
Mohammed Salah’s free kick effectively sets Egypt up for their first goal. Salah, from the side of the box, flicks the ball into the box. Ashour attempts to shoot but the ball takes a deflection off an Australian defender. From the right side, outside of the box, Hafeez crosses to Ashour who’s at the back post and he heads it past the Australian keeper to make it 1-0.
…. did Egypt just gift Australia a goal?
In the second half, Australia picked up a free kick after Aiden O’Neill was fouled outside the box. He then sets up a free kick, curling into the box. Unfortunately for Egypt, their own Mohamed Hany was on the receiving end and he headed it into the top right corner. Even more unfortunate, is the fact that this is Hany’s second own-goal in this tournament. He had earlier scored an own-goal against Belgium in the group stage.
He has now set the record as the only player to have two own goals in one World Cup.
This is how Egypt made it out
Egypt hunted for chances to offset their earlier error, but all in vain. Even past extra-time, they tied 1-1 with the Soccerroos. They managed to score all four penalties as opposed to Australia’s meagre two. Egypt have now advanced to the round of 16.
Lionel Messi’s stunning opener against Cabo Verde
Who but him?
The Argentine had attempted twice to score, but in vain. Then, in the 28th, he made it 1-0, firing past Cabo Verde’s Vozinha. A cross from Lisandro Martínez, who was a few feet from the midway line, came to Messi. He received it within the box and shot into the top of the net. What was incredible about this goal was the Argentine legend’s first touch and ball control. A goal worth watching.
Do not rule Cabo Verde out! Deroy Duarte with an answer!
Cabo Verde’s performances at the group stage made one thing very clear — you do not count them out even if they’re in a deficit. The African side emerged in the second half with a befitting answer, a goal by Deroy Duarte. Morrera, who’d won the ball from a midfield battle, passed it to Mendes. On the right wing, Ryan Mendes gets the ball, stumping multiple Argentine players, to Duarte. From within the box, he shot it effortlessly into the left bottom corner while goalkeeper Martinez could do nothing but watch.
In the heat, emerged Lisandro Martínez
Argentina had no answers for Cabo Verde’s equaliser. Attempts by Paredes, Messi — all in vain because of how well the Cabo Verde defense and Vozinha responded. This all changed at extra-rime. At the 91st minute, Messi delivered a corner kick from the left, which was headed by Mac Allister towards the right. From the right corner emerged Lisandro Martínez who brought the ball to his feet, and smashed it into the left top corner.
Sidny Lopes Cabral is THE man Cabo Verde needed. Goal of the tournament?
The curl on the shot needs to be studied.
The build-up began at the back, from keeper Vozinha. It looked a string of meaningless passing for a while, until in the final third, this changed. Sidny Cabral brought the ball into the final third, passing to Hélio Varela. Another string of passes here brought the ball back to Cabral, who dribbled into the left corner of the box. The shot that followed had the perfect curl and hit the top right corner. Perhaps, a contender for goal of the tournament and a lesson on team effort.
Romero and Messi turn the tides with a lethal corner kick, ending Cabo Verdean dreams
In the 110th minute, Messi stepped up to take a corner kick, which landed perfectly into the box. Christian Romero received the ball and directed a header across, but the ball had taken a touch off Cabo Verde’s Diney Borges to land in the back of the net.
Merely a tiny deflection. One that changed the outcome of the tournament altogether.
However, the story of Cabo Verde and their resilience, and their game tonight — the way they have relentlessly tested every opponent and fought for their wins, has certainly won the hearts of fans across the globe.
Jhon Arias gets Colombia across against Ghana
Colombia was the better side through this fixture, as Ghana’s best could not stall the South Americans. Nor did the African side register any shots through the 90. Perhaps the Ghanaian Achilles heel is South America — for in the last two World Cups, they were eliminated by Uruguay and Colombia.
Coming to the goal, it was set up by substitute Luis Suárez. Jhon Cordoba was replaced due to an injury in the 7th minute by the electric Suárez, whose profile fit Colombia’s needs for this game. The substitute’s first cross was blocked, but he picked up the rebound t0 cross to Luis Díaz. Lucho missed this but Jhon Arias did not — who secured a clean finish from the back-post. Further Colombian attempts did not succeed and Ghana’s attempts were all foiled. The game ended a 1-0, getting Colombia across to the round of 16.
Honorary mention: Bayern’s own Luis Díaz secured two shots on target, but was denied by the flag on both accounts.
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