AFCON 2024: Cape Verde Advance To Quarter-finals After Defeating Mauritania

 

Cape Verde are through to the quarter-finals of the 2024 AFCON Cup with a late goal that secured a 1-0 victory for the side against Mauritania.

After a long stalemate, Cape Verde in the latter stages found the winning goal from a penalty drawn from goalkeeper Babacar Niasse's tackle on Gilson Tavares in a set piece. Ryan Mendes took the spot-kick and converted it for the side to move ahead. 

With two minutes left to play, Mauritania could not make a comeback and were knocked out of the competition as their opponents will continued to the quarter-finals. 

The farthest Cape Verde have gone at the AFCON Cup is the quarter-final. On the last appearance in the Last 8, they lost 2-0 to Ghana from Mubarak Wakaso's double in 2013. 

Quick Overview 

Mauritania did all they could at the back, in the end, the loss came from a defensive flop from a back-head pass that left Niasse with the option of attacking the loose ball and gave away a penalty. That was needless to say that Niasse had made some incredible saves to keep the side in the game until Yassin's flop late into the game. 

Cape Verde fairly controlled the game but needed to keep a strong defense as the Mauritanians depended on a counter with Souleymane Anne at the front and capable of deliverying for the side. Meanwhile, it was not that game that Bebe could make something out of his efforts as he was closely watched by the Mauritania. 

It was a victory well-deserved for Cape Verde, even though it could have gone either ways but it was just a matter of time for the island country to take the victory.