AFCON 2023
Match 16 – Cape Verde v Mozambique
Friday 19 January | 16:00
Interestingly, no two members of Cape Verde’s squad play for the same club side. There was no lack of cohesion in their win against Ghana, however. Mozambique, meanwhile, were on course to beat Egypt before a late penalty was converted by Mo Salah meant the game ended in a draw.
To Win Match
Cape Verde 12/10 | Draw 16/10 | Mozambique 26/10
Cape Verde got off to a promising start in the tournament, and their victory against Ghana has boosted their confidence. Facing Mozambique in the next match provides the ideal opportunity for Cape Verde to secure a spot in the last 16.
Garry Rodrigues and Jamiro Monteiro, mentioned as key players with heroic performances, will likely play crucial roles in the upcoming game. The emphasis on winning second balls indicates Cape Verde’s strategy and potential threat in creating goal-scoring opportunities.
If Cape Verde manage to beat Mozambique, it would be only the second time that they would have reached the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, highlighting their progress in international football.
Mozambique will be determined to bounce back from their opening match setback against Egypt, where they conceded a late penalty which denied them maximum points. They showed tremendous courage in that tie, especially to come back and take the lead after falling behind after 90-odd seconds against one of the continent’s strongest teams.
Key players like Geny Catamo, who plays for Sporting in Portugal, and skipper Dominguez Elias Pelembe are highlighted as potential game-changers for Mozambique.
Mozambique cannot afford to lose in this fixture, considering the tournament’s format and the need to avoid added pressure in the last group game. They will come out here and fight tooth and nail for the win.
Verdict: Draw 16/10
This will be a high-intensity game with both sides knowing that a win here will go a long way to securing their passage to the round of 16. I can’t split them and can see this ending in a draw.