Andre and Jordan Ayew were both on target as 10-man Ghana were forced to settle for a draw against Benin at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mickael Pote gave Benin a shock lead after two minutes but Black Stars captain Andre Ayew restored parity.
His younger brother Jordan fired Ghana ahead, but Pote earned the Squirrels a point after John Boye was dismissed for a second yellow card.
Ghana arrived in Egypt as one of the favourites for the title but were carved open for Benin’s opener, which came from the first real attack of the contest.
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Veteran striker Pote, who scored 16 goals in 33 league appearances for Turkish club Adana Demirspor last season, beat two defenders before prodding the ball beyond onrushing goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
The Black Stars’ response was almost immediate, though, the elder Ayew brother finding the bottom corner with a deflected drive from the edge of the penalty box.
Jordan Ayew, who spent the 2018-19 season on loan at Crystal Palace from Swansea City, pounced on a lapse in concentration from Olivier Verdun to put Ghana ahead, before Boye – who had been booked in the first half – was shown a second yellow card for time-wasting.
Benin soon made their numerical advantage count, Pote firing home his second of the game following a well-worked corner to earn the Squirrels their second ever point in the tournament.
Four-time winners Ghana return to action against Cameroon on Saturday, June 29 while Benin face Guinea-Bissau in the day’s late game.
