AFCON 2023: Cape Verde battle South Africa for last four place

Cape Verde and South Africa are getting ready for a big match in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final at Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro on Saturday. The Blue Sharks are aiming for a special victory as they’ve never gone past this stage before, and South Africa is eager to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2000.

Cape Verde has been doing well, scoring eight goals, which is only second to Angola as they head into the quarter-finals. In their previous match against Mauritania in the round of 16, a late penalty by Ryan Mendes sealed the victory for Cape Verde. With Egypt out, Cape Verde is the only team left from Group B, and they are determined to go beyond their previous achievements in the tournament.

In 2013, Cape Verde made it to the last eight, and in AFCON 2021, they reached the round of 16. Now, with an undefeated run in AFCON 2023, they are facing South Africa with high spirits, aiming to make history in their football journey.

South Africa, on the other hand, enters the quarter-finals with confidence after a remarkable 2-0 win against Morocco, who were considered favorites.

Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena played key roles in securing the victory. Even though there was some luck involved with Morocco missing a penalty, South Africa sees such breaks as crucial for underdogs to succeed in major tournaments.

Despite South Africa’s experience in reaching the quarter-finals in 2002, 2013, and 2019, they haven’t made it to the last four since winning in 1996. The potential of facing Nigeria or Angola in the semi-finals provides extra motivation for Hugo Broos’s team to secure a spot in the semis.

Cape Verde’s recent form in AFCON and other competitions shows a mix of wins and draws, while South Africa enters the quarter-finals with a strong record, winning three out of their last five matches in all competitions.

The clash between these two teams promises to be an exciting encounter, with both sides eyeing a historic journey to the semi-finals in AFCON 2023. Football fans are eagerly awaiting this showdown as the quest for continental glory continues.

Source:dailymailgh