Cape Verde and South Africa are gearing up for a crucial clash in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final at Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro on Saturday.
The Blue Sharks are aiming for a historic victory, never having advanced beyond this stage, while South Africa seeks a spot in the semi-finals for the first time since 2000.
Heading into the quarter-finals, Cape Verde has been impressive, scoring eight goals, second only to Angola. Their round of 16 match against Mauritania saw a late penalty by Ryan Mendes securing their win. Cape Verde's success and Egypt's elimination make them the only remaining representative from Group B, and they are determined to go further than ever before in the tournament.
In 2013, Cape Verde reached the last eight, while AFCON 2021 saw them exit at the round of 16. Now, with an undefeated run in AFCON 2023, they face South Africa with high motivation to break new ground in their football history.
On the other side, South Africa enters the quarter-finals with confidence after a stunning 2-0 victory over tournament favorites Morocco. Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena were the heroes in that match, securing the win. Despite some luck riding on a missed penalty by Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, South Africa believes in the importance of such breaks for underdogs to succeed in a major tournament.
While South Africa has experienced this stage more often, having reached the quarter-finals in 2002, 2013, and 2019, they haven't progressed to the last four since winning in 1996. The potential of facing Nigeria or Angola in the semis adds extra motivation for Hugo Broos's side to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
As Cape Verde's form in AFCON and other competitions shows a mix of wins and draws, South Africa enters the quarter-finals with a solid record, having won three out of their last five matches in all competitions. The clash between these two teams promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both sides eyeing a historic journey to the semi-finals in AFCON 2023. Football enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting this showdown as the quest for continental glory continues.
