Cape Verde secured their spot in the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in Côte d’Ivoire.
Ryan Mendes’ 88th-minute penalty proved to be the decisive moment at the Felix Houphourt-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
The Blue Sharks, known for their unexpected performance in the tournament, surprised a spectrum of Mauritania supporters with their remarkable win.
Despite being a tiny Atlantic Ocean island nation, Cape Verde showcased their prowess by advancing to the knockout stage, a feat they had never achieved before in their AFCON history.
Mauritania, buoyed by their recent victory over Algeria, aimed to extend their impressive run in Ivory Coast. However, they faced a formidable Cape Verde side led by coach Amir Abdou, renowned for his previous success with Comoros.
The Chinguetti Lions missed a crucial opportunity when Souleymane Anne failed to convert just before the hour mark. Meanwhile, Cape Verde continued to dominate, with Mendes coming close to scoring from a corner.
A pivotal moment arrived when Cape Verde was awarded a penalty after a foul by Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Niasse on Gilson Tavares Benchimol.
Mendes, representing Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk, capitalized on the opportunity, securing his country’s historic advancement with his second goal of the tournament.
