M. KisengeAFCON 2023: Cape Verde books slot in round of sixteen following win over Mozambique
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 19.01.24. | 19:22
The massive win by the Blue Sharks, their best ever in AFCON means that either Ghana or Egypt will not make it out of the group thanks to their slow start in the tournament
When the draw for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was conducted in October last year, many thought that record champions Egypt and four-time winners Ghana would easily settle on the two top slots of Group B and sail to the round of sixteen.
Very few gave Cape Verde the chance of advancing to the knockout stage given the presence of the two continental heavyweights.
Fast-forward, Cape Verde becomes the first team to qualify for the round of sixteen after thrashing Mozambique 3-0 on Friday at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.
Tiago Manuel Dias Correia alias Bebe gave Cape Verde the lead in the 32nd minute after unleashing a freekick from 40 yards to take his tally in the tournament to two goals.
The former Manchester United forward had threatened to break the deadlock from yet another long-range freekick that ricocheted off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
Ryan Mendes doubled the advantage of Cape Verde in the 51st minute before Kevin Pina wrapped the goal-fest with the third in the 69th minute.
Mendes would be named and awarded the man of the match trophy for hie efforts on the pitch.
Mozambican goalkeeper Ernan Siluane will have himself to blame as he would have done better in instances leading to the two goals.
The massive win by the Blue Sharks, their best ever in AFCON means that either Ghana or Egypt will not make it out of the group thanks to their slow start in the tournament.
Egypt were frustrated to a 2-2 draw by Mozambique in their opener while Ghana lost 2-1 to Cape Verde.
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The two giants labored for a 2-2 draw on Thursday complicating their chances of squeezing themselves into the knockout stage.
The Pharaohs will wrap their group stage activities with a clash against the already qualified Cape Verde while Ghana will face Mozambique.
The three have a mathematical chance of joining Cape Verde who will seek to top the pool to avoid a big gun in the round of sixteen.
AFCON 2023- GROUP STAGE
Round 2
Thursday
Equatorial Guinea - Guinea Bissau 4-2 (1-1)
/Nsue 21, 51, 61, Miranda 46 - Orosco 37, Ze Turbo 90+3/
Ivory Coast - Nigeria 0-1 (0-0)
/Troost-Ekong 54 pen/
Egypt - Ghana 2-2 (0-1)
/Marmoush 69, M. Mohamed 74 - Kudus 45+3, 71/
Friday Results
Cape Verde 3 Mozambique 0
Bebe 32, Ryan Mendes 51, Kevin Pina 69
Friday Fixtures
17:00: (2.15) Cape Verde (3.15) Mozambique (3.70)
20:00: (1.97) Senegal (3.30) Cameroon (4.20)
23:00: (2.15) Guinea (3.15) Gambia (3.70)
Saturday
17:00: (1.72) Algeria (3.50) Burkina Faso (5.40)
20:00: (3.15) Mauritania (3.05) Angola (2.45)
23:00: (2.75) Tunisia (2.95) Mali (2.85)
Sunday
17:00: (1.58) Morocco (3.70) DR Congo (6.75)
20:00: (2.30) Zambia (3.15) Tanzania (3.35)
23:00: (2.00) S.Africa (3.30) Namibia (4.00)
***odds are subject to change***
