Penalty moves Cape Verde into AFCON Quarter-Finals

Cape Verde won their first Africa Cup of Nations knockout tie on Monday, defeating Mauritania 1-0 thanks to a late Ryan Mendes penalty in the last 16.

The match at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan was heading to extra time when Cape Verde gained a penalty kick, which captain Mendes converted with two minutes remaining to shatter Mauritania’s resistance.

The Blue Sharks then hung on for 10 extra minutes to proceed to the quarter-finals on Saturday in Yamoussoukro against either Morocco or South Africa, who face off in the last 16 on Tuesday.

“We have our objective, which from day one has been to get to the semi-finals.

Mauritania had been hoping to extend their fine run in Ivory Coast, after they won a Cup of Nations match for the first time in nine attempts in their last group game, beating Algeria to eliminate one of the continent’s powerhouses.

But a side coached by Amir Abdou, who took tiny Comoros to the last 16 in Cameroon two years ago, will go no further after failing to find a way past Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

The Chinguetti Lions will look back with regret at one fine chance just before the hour mark, when Souleymane Anne was played into a great position inside the box only to put his shot over.

Cape Verde looked the more likely team as the minutes ticked down, and Mendes came very close to scoring with a header from a corner that was well saved by Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Niasse.

They were then awarded a penalty when substitute Gilson Tavares Benchimol was brought down in the box by Niasse after intercepting a poor header back from Mauritania defender Yassin El Welly.

NEWS CREDIT: AFP