Cape Verde will face South Africa in the fourth and final quarterfinal of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. This marks the second time these two teams have met at this stage of the continental competition.
Here's a comprehensive look at both teams and what to expect from this exciting matchup.
Cape Verde's Journey to the Quarterfinals
Cape Verde are on the verge of achieving their best-ever result at the African Cup of Nations. The Blue Sharks have never progressed beyond the quarterfinals, having only qualified for the last eight once before, in 2013.
Cape Verde v South Africa | AFCON 2023 | Match Highlights
Since then, Cape Verde have won both subsequent encounters between the two nations, securing 2-1 victories both home and away in World Cup qualifying in 2017. Bubista’s men are unbeaten in Ivory Coast, having won three of their four matches, including a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in the last round.
Key Players for Cape Verde
Cape Verde have demonstrated a good balance across the pitch, excelling in attack and scoring in every game, while also maintaining an impressive defence with two clean sheets thus far. Thirty-four-year-old Ryan Mendes has been a standout player, scoring twice in the competition, including a late penalty against Mauritania. With seven players contributing to Cape Verde’s eight goals, they are a difficult team to contain.
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Other players to watch include Bebe, Jovane Cabral, and Jamiro Monteiro.
South Africa's Resurgence
South Africa, the 1996 AFCON champions, are seeking to qualify for the semifinals for the first time in 24 years. They had failed to qualify for the Nations Cup four times in the last seven editions, including the previous tournament in Cameroon in 2021. Bafana Bafana have shown resilience after losing their tournament opener, bouncing back exceptionally.
Hugo Broos’ charges fell 2-0 to Mali to begin their group campaign, but since then, they haven’t lost nor conceded a goal in three outings. One of those victories was a 2-0 success over heavy favorites Morocco. The 65th-ranked nation globally has grown with each match in Ivory Coast and will arrive here fully confident of a win. Also having a coach that has won the tournament before adds to strengthening belief in this team.
Key Players for South Africa
While Cape Verde’s squad consists of players from around the world, South Africa’s is more locally based, with only three of the 26-man squad playing outside the South African PSL. Percy Tau of Al Ahly and Sphephelo Sithole of Tondela have been consistent fixtures in Ivory Coast. Tau, with 16 international goals, has one goal in the competition so far.
Five players have scored for Bafana Bafana at the AFCON, with Themba Zwane leading the way with two goals. Hugo Broos’ men have also shown good balance across the pitch but have been more impressive in defence. They have kept three successive clean sheets, and the back five, including the goalkeeper, has remained consistent, with all five players playing for Mamelodi Sundowns.
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Prediction
Our prediction for Cape Verde v South Africa is for under 2.5 goals to be scored in the match. The only other time these two teams have met at the Cup of Nations, they drew 0-0.
For our second take for this match, we pick South Africa to win. South Africa have won twice in five meetings with Cape Verde. They have also had more knockout round success at the AFCON than Cape Verde who have never advanced past the quarterfinals.
Broadcast Information
Fans in the UK can watch this match live on Sky Sports Football with coverage beginning 15 minutes before kickoff. For audiences in Cape Verde, RTC will broadcast the game while SABC Sport will do the same for fans in South Africa.
Historical Context
This will be the second time the two nations clash at the AFCON. The Sharks reached the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time only in 2013, and they have grown in prominence after tapping into the country's extensive diaspora.
Here's a summary of the key information:
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| Team | Key Player | Strengths | AFCON History |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Verde | Ryan Mendes | Balanced attack and defense, multiple goal scorers | Best result: Quarterfinals (2013) |
| South Africa | Themba Zwane | Strong defense, experienced coach | Champion (1996) |
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