Cape Verde, Mali secure AFCON qualification

Cape Verde showcased their dominance in a resounding 3-1 triumph over Burkina Faso at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde.

The spectators erupted with joy as Bebé opened the scoring in the seventh minute, expertly finishing off a play orchestrated by Cape Verde’s Patrick Andrade.

Comfortable on home turf, the Islanders seized control of the game, leaving their Burkinabe opponents devoid of offensive tactics.

A notable instance saw Tapsoba failing to capitalise on an opportunity created by the Cape Verdean defence’s lapse.

While the Blue Sharks impressed offensively, they did encounter some lapses in concentration during defensive transitions.

Taking advantage of these moments, Issoufou Dayo found the back of the net with a scrambled finish just before halftime.

As the teams emerged from the locker room, the Burkinabe side failed to regain their composure, losing their captain, Bertrand Traoré, to injury, a significant blow for the semi-finalists of the previous TotalEnergies AFCON, who found themselves suffocated by their West African rivals.

Fernandes’ 76th-minute strike from the right wing restored the advantage for Cape Verde.

In the dying moments of the game, Andrade delivered the final blow, netting the third goal past Kilian Nikiema.

With this remarkable victory, Cape Verde secured their place in the upcoming Côte d’Ivoire tournament, marking a significant achievement for the Blue Sharks.

Similarly, Mali emerged victorious in a 2-0 triumph over Congo during the CAF 2023 qualifiers.

The match started with a goalless first half, but the Malian team showcased an entirely different level of play after the break.

The Eagles unleashed a series of incisive attacks, ultimately breaking the deadlock through Ibrahima Koné.

Capitalizing on their excellent phases of play, Malian coach Eric Chelle made a few strategic changes.

The introduction of Nene Dorgeles in place of Kamory Doumbia proved to be a winning move, as Dorgeles found the back of the net just four minutes after coming on.

With a 2-0 lead firmly in their grasp, Mali skillfully navigated the rest of the match without conceding.

This victory secures Mali’s qualification for the highly anticipated CAF TotalEnergies Côte d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
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