In a thrilling AFCON 2023 Round of 16 encounter, Cape Verde secured a spot in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Mauritania. The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when Cape Verde’s captain, Ryan Mendes, calmly converted a penalty, propelling the Blue Sharks into the next stage.
Cape Verde, surprising many as one of the standout teams in the tournament, finished unbeaten at the top of Group B. Despite being second best for much of the first half against Mauritania, they finished strongly to secure their progression. Their opponent in the quarter-finals will be determined from the clash between Morocco and South Africa.
Mauritania, reaching the knockout stages for the first time, had previously advanced by defeating two-time winners Algeria. The match was characterized by end-to-end action in the first half, but clear-cut chances were scarce. Cape Verde’s Mendes had an early effort deflected, while Mauritania’s captain, Mouhsine Bodda, narrowly missed a free-kick.
The second half saw Mauritania dominating early on, but they failed to capitalize on their opportunities. In the 87th minute, Cape Verde’s Gilson Benchimol was brought down in the penalty area, leading to Mendes’ decisive penalty kick. Despite ten minutes of added time, Cape Verde held on to secure their place in the quarter-finals, where they aim to continue their impressive run in the tournament.
