The Blue Sharks exhibited a stupendous display to marmalize Mozambique by an emphatic 3-0 in an exciting Group B encounter to book a spot in the next stage of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The opening twenty minutes of the game was really a close one with both teams taking the game at each other in search of the opener.
However, it was Cape Verde who opened the scoring account on the 31st minute through former Manchester United attacker Bebe- who scored with a spectacular free kick which was wide away from the opposition territory.
On the 40th minute, Mozambique with an opportunity to get themselves back after being awarded a penalty but Moroccan referee Samir Guezzaz rescinded his decision later after consulting VAR.
In the second half, the Blues didn't relent anytime soon and started explosively as they searched another goal of which they eventually got on the 51st minute through captain Ryan Mendes who pounced on a defensive clanger to score.
The Mambas looked completely off at some point in the game and were left to only chase their own shadows.
Eighteen minutes later, Kevin Lenini Goncalves increased their tally with a fantastic hit from all the way out as the Cape Verdean continue to run riots over their opponents.
It finished 3-0 after full time at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium for Cape Verde- who are currently the first team to advance to the knockout phase of the 2023 AFCON.
The Blue Sharks have cruised from the group for the third time after 2013 and 2021 and will play their last group game against Egypt on Monday, January 22, 2024.
By: Iddriss Abdul Rahim
