Afcon 2023: Cape Verde 3-0 Mozambique – Bebe 40-yard free-kick helps seal last-16 spot
Cape Verde #CapeVerde
Bebe scored a 40-yard free-kick as Cape Verde beat Mozambique to become the first team to book their last-16 place at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Rayo Vallecano forward, once of Manchester United, smashed in a strike which keeper Ernan Siluane should have done better with.
Captain Ryan Mendes took advantage of a defensive mistake to double their lead.
Kevin Pina then hammered a brilliant strike into the top corner from outside the box to seal the win in Abidjan.
Mozambique’s best moments came through Geny Catamo. He won a penalty in the first half, which was overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR), and hit the crossbar with a free-kick.
Cape Verde surprise winners of tough group
Bebe (left) made his Cape Verde debut in 2022 having previously represented Portugal at youth level
Nobody would have expected the Blue Sharks to have won a group containing Egypt and Ghana with a game to go but that is precisely what happened.
Bubista’s side, ranked 73rd in the world, are in their fourth Africa Cup of Nations – and have progressed from the group stages in three of them.
Cape Verde, who beat Ghana, and Mozambique, who drew with Egypt, both came into this game high on confidence after good opening results.
But the Mambas, who sit 111th in the Fifa rankings, were well beaten this time out.
Bebe, who made his Cape Verde debut in 2022 after switching international allegiance from Portugal, hit the woodwork with a free-kick before scoring from way out thanks to some shoddy goalkeeping.
They rarely looked back after that and Witi had Mozambique’s only shot on target.
Egypt and Ghana, who sit on two and one point respectively, could both go through yet with the four best third-placed teams reaching the last 16.
Mozambique, who have never won an Africa Cup of Nations game, could also reach the knockout stages if they beat Ghana.
Line-upsCape Verde
Formation 4-3-3
1Évora Dias
23Moreira5Evans Costa4Lopes8Moreira Fernandes
14D’Encarnação Duarte26Gonçalves Pereira de Pina10Monteiro Alvarenga
20Mendes da Graça21Dias Correia7Borges Cabral
Substitutes
Mozambique
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Siluane
17Sitóe8Dove15Isnard Mandava
14Macandza16Amade21Martins Guimarães5Langa
20Cipriano Catamo19Quembo
13Ratifo
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Cabo Verde 3, Mozambique 0.
Second Half ends, Cabo Verde 3, Mozambique 0.
Attempt saved. Geny Catamo (Mozambique) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dominguês with a headed pass.
Corner, Mozambique. Conceded by Pico.
Offside, Mozambique. Nanani is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Garry Rodrigues (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Willy Semedo.
Corner, Mozambique. Conceded by Logan Costa.
Offside, Cabo Verde. Gilson Benchimol is caught offside.
Corner, Mozambique. Conceded by Pico.
Attempt blocked. Garry Rodrigues (Cabo Verde) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Willy Semedo.
Attempt missed. Lau King (Mozambique) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Shaquille with a cross.
Foul by Gilson Benchimol (Cabo Verde).
Edmilson Dove (Mozambique) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Cabo Verde. Cuca replaces Jamiro Monteiro.
Substitution, Cabo Verde. Kenny Rocha replaces Deroy Duarte.
Substitution, Mozambique. Nanani replaces Domingos Macandza.
Substitution, Mozambique. Gildo Lourenço replaces Bruno Langa.
Foul by Deroy Duarte (Cabo Verde).
Geny Catamo (Mozambique) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.