This nation populated with just 500,000 people or there about and colonized by Portugal in 1975 caught my attention when they stopped the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun (4 times winners of the Nations cup; 1984, 1988, 2000 & 2002) from participating at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) via a two legged play-off match. The Creoles as Cape Verde is known beat Cameroun 2-0 on their home pitch in Praia in the first leg and lost 2-1 on Cameroun’s ground in Yaoundé. They however edged out the Lions 3-2 on aggregate. The giant killers as this team is now known held Nigeria to a goalless draw in a friendly match enroute to Nations cup proper currently holding in South Africa.
Cape Verde were placed alongside the hosts South Africa, Angola and Morocco in Group A of the 2013 AFCON. A tough group for a team filled with part time footballers. They played a goalless draw with the hosts in their first game and they were close to getting their first AFCON victory against Morocco before the North Africans leveled scores late in the game (1-1). Luis Carlos Almada Soares, nicknamed Platini after the French great scored Cape Verde’s first ever goal in the African cup of Nations. The Creoles nevertheless had every chance of making it to the quarter finals in their next game and boy did they do that. They beat Angola 2-1 (they battled from being a goal down to win) to qualify for the quarter finals.
If you read my article titled “AFCON 2013”, you will remember I predicted a quarter final slot for Cape Verde. I was wondering why some of my friends were pissed the Super Eagles played a goalless draw with this team. It was a decent result and if you still don’t think so, make una Super Eagles sef qualify from their group first, shiooooor.
Congrats to Cape Verde on making the quarter finals at their first ever appearance AFCON. I even heard their coach Lucio Antunes got tips from “The Only One” (Jose Mourinho) on how to go about the games at the AFCON. I can see its working. I hope they can make it to the semifinals but that would be a big ask though possible as they might be facing Mali or Ghana. Yea I am predicting Ghana and Mali would go through to quarters ahead of Congo DR and Niger in Group B.
All the best Cape Verde.
I must point out that those pitches in South Africa are horrible. Wasn’t the 2010 World Cup hosted there? Gosh what happened? Maybe it’s a ploy to win the AFCON (HAHAHAHAHAHA). We never can tell but it won’t happen though.
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Have a blessed week y’all.
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