Cape Verde defeated Mozambique 3-0 to confirm their place in the knockout stages of AFCON, although Chiquinho Conde’s side are still alive and have a chance of making the knockout despite now playing 14 straight games in the tournament without a win.
Looking to build on their opening-game victory over Ghana, Cape Verde started brightly and Mozambique goalkeeper Ernani was forced to make an early diving save to deny Deroy Duarte’s well-struck effort across goal.
Bebé was next to threaten as he rattled the bar from a free kick far from distance. All the same he had a better outcome subsequently just after the half-hour mark.
With the ball sitting at least 45 yards from goal, it appeared Mozambique and more specifically Ernani, was expecting a cross. Bebé’s fiercely hit effort was full of dip and swerve but was still straight at the goalkeeper who should have done better as he parried the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
Despite offering limited attacking threat, Mambas thought they had a chance to equalise from the spot just before HT when a tangle of legs saw Geny Catamo go down in the area, but the decision was overturned following a VAR intervention.
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly quashed after the break when Edmilson Dove was robbed of the ball on the edge of his own area by Ryan Mendes who kept his cool to beat Ernani and make it 2-0.
Geny Catamo almost managed to strike back with a free kick just before the hour-mark, but it clipped the top of the bar and went behind.
Cape Verde would put the game beyond doubt with just over 20 minutes to go as Ryan Mended bagged his second. From a mere 30 yards out, his piledriver was closer to goal than Bebé’s opener, but this time Ernani had no chance as it flew straight into the top corner to give Tubarões Azuis an unrecoverable lead.
The victory means that Cape Verde have already won the group after winning both of their games, and pick a ticket to the knockout phase. On the other hand, Mozambique despite sitting bottom of the group, can still make the knockout phase by getting a victory in their final game as that could still be enough for them to advance, but they’ll need the help of Cape Verde by ensuring they avoid defeat against Egypt to make that happen.
