As Cape Verde prepares to face Mozambique in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the island nation finds itself in a prime position following a shocking victory over Ghana in the opening round. Manager Bubista, relishing the “special” win, emphasized the significance of overcoming Ghana, the team that eliminated them in the quarter-finals during their inaugural AFCON appearance in 2013.
Cape Verde, potentially on the brink of progressing beyond the group stage for the third time in four attempts, carries the weight of expectations. Their unbeaten record as pre-match favorites in AFCON and World Cup qualifiers last year (W3, D2) reflects their ability to handle pressure.
On the other side, Mozambique, coming off a historic 2-2 draw with Egypt, had the chance to secure a first-ever victory against the African giants but conceded a late penalty. Coach Condé Chiquinho expressed disappointment but took it as a positive step forward. Mozambique, yet to win at an AFCON finals (D3, L10), aims to rectify their defensive lapses and conquer Cape Verde for the first time since 2014 (D1, L2).
Players to watch include Cape Verde’s in-form Jamiro Monteiro, who has scored in his last two international appearances, and Mozambique’s Witi, a goal-scorer against Egypt and Cape Verde in 2019.
With six of Mozambique’s last eight internationals seeing both teams score, the upcoming clash promises to be a test of defensive resilience and attacking prowess. As Cape Verde readies itself for the challenge, the stage is set for another thrilling encounter in the unpredictable Group B of AFCON.
