Late Mendes Penalty Send Cape Verde into CAF Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-final

In a thrilling encounter at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cape Verde secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Mauritania, earning a coveted spot in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities, Cape Verde faced a resilient Mauritania defense throughout the match. Jovane Cabral's early goal was disallowed for offside, adding to the tension in the stadium.

The deadlock persisted until the 87th minute when Cape Verde's Gilson Tavares was brought down in the box by Mauritania's goalkeeper, Babacar Niasse. Captain Ryan Mendes confidently stepped up and converted the penalty, unleashing a wave of celebration among Cape Verde supporters.

With this late breakthrough, Cape Verde successfully fended off Mauritania's attempts to equalize. The victory marks Cape Verde's second qualification for the quarter-finals, setting the stage for an upcoming clash with either Morocco or South Africa on Saturday.

As both sets of passionate fans cheered on their teams, the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium witnessed a memorable moment in African football, with Cape Verde now eyeing further success ahead.