CAPE VERDE WON an Africa Cup of Nations knockout tie for the primary time of their historical past on Monday as a late Ryan Mendes penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Mauritania within the final 16.
The match on the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan was drifting in direction of additional time when Cape Verde received a spot-kick and captain Mendes transformed with simply two minutes of the 90 remaining to interrupt Mauritania’s resistance.
Shamrock Rovers’ Roberto Lopes performed the complete recreation at centre-half for the winners.
The Blue Sharks then held on by 10 added minutes to advance to a quarter-final on Saturday in Yamoussoukro towards both Morocco or South Africa, who meet within the final 16 on Tuesday.
The tiny Atlantic Ocean island nation had acquired out of their group in two of their three earlier appearances on the AFCON, however had by no means earlier than received a knockout tie.
Mauritania had been hoping to increase their superb run in Ivory Coast, after they received a Cup of Nations match for the primary time in 9 makes an attempt of their final group recreation, beating Algeria to eradicate one of many continent’s powerhouses.
However a aspect coached by Amir Abdou, who took tiny Comoros to the final 16 in Cameroon two years in the past, will go no additional after failing to discover a well past Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.
The Chinguetti Lions will look again with remorse at one superb likelihood simply earlier than the hour mark, when Souleymane Anne was performed into an amazing place contained in the field solely to place his shot over.
Cape Verde appeared the extra possible group because the minutes ticked down, and Mendes got here very near scoring with a header from a nook that was effectively saved by Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Niasse.
They had been then awarded a penalty when substitute Gilson Tavares Benchimol was introduced down within the field by Niasse after intercepting a poor header again from Mauritania defender Yassin El Welly.
The Egyptian referee pointed to the spot, and Mendes, of Turkish aspect Fatih Karagumruk, smashed house the penalty, his second purpose of the event making historical past for his nation.
– © AFP 2024
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