Cape Verde vs Mauritania LIVE! AFCON result, match stream and latest updates today
Cape Verde vs Mauritania - LIVE!
Ryan Mendes' late penalty gave Cape Verde a dramatic 1-0 win over Mauritania and booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Blue Sharks went into the last-16 clash as favourites, having gone unbeaten on their way to the knockout stages as they topped Group B ahead of Egypt and Ghana. Mauritania, meanwhile, had edged through after stunning Algeria in their final group-stage game, for what was their first ever win at the tournament.
It was a tight affair for much of this match, with Mauritania competing in their first AFCON knockout game, and for 87 minutes it looked as though extra-time would be required to split them.
One mistake was all it took though, as Yassin El Welly tried to head the ball back to his goalkeeper and instead nodded it perfectly into the path of Gilson Benchimol. The Cape Verde forward went round Babacar Niasse and was brought down, the referee wasting no time in pointing to the spot. Captain Mendes stepped up and lashed his penalty straight down the middle, before Cape Verde survived ten minutes of stoppage-time to set up a quarter-final against either Morocco or South Africa.
Cape Verde vs Mauritania latest news
GOAL! Mendes puts Cape Verde in front with late penalty
HT: Goalless after 45 minutes
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19:13 , Matt Verri
Ryan Mendes' late penalty gave Cape Verde a dramatic 1-0 win over Mauritania and booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
It was a tight affair for much of this match, with Mauritania competing in their first AFCON knockout game, and for 87 minutes it looked as though extra-time would be required to split them.
One mistake was all it took though, as Yassin El Welly tried to head the ball back to his goalkeeper and instead nodded it perfectly into the path of Gilson Benchimol.
The Cape Verde forward went round Babacar Niasse and was brought down, the referee wasting no time in pointing to the spot.
Captain Mendes stepped up and lashed his penalty straight down the middle, before Cape Verde survived ten minutes of stoppage-time to set up a quarter-final against either Morocco or South Africa.
How Cape Verde won it...
19:04 , Matt Verri
A cruel end to a brilliant AFCON run for Mauritania.
"WHAT A MISTAKE" 😲
Ryan Mendes scores the goal that could send Cape Verde through to the last eight! 👏️🔥 pic.twitter.com/wkVJozAOIv— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 29, 2024
FT: Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania
18:59 , Matt Verri
Cape Verde have done it!
They are through to the quarter-finals, Ryan Mendes' penalty is enough for victory.
Mauritania were so impressive for so long, but one mistake was all it took.
Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania
18:57 , Matt Verri
90+9 mins: Gilson standing on the halfway line, waiting for a Cape Verde counter.
It comes to him out wide, but he makes a mess of controlling it.
Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania
18:54 , Matt Verri
90+6 mins: Well then. Free-kick in a brilliant position for Mauritania.
Whipped well wide, bounces off the board and back onto the net, which fools most people inside the ground. Celebrations swiftly cut short though.
Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania
18:51 , Matt Verri
90+3 mins: Another corner for Cape Verde, they're in no rush to take it.
Just ticking the minutes away, Mauritania can't get out of their own half.
Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania
18:48 , Matt Verri
90 mins: Mendes hammered that spot-kick down the middle, no messing around.
TEN minutes added on! Not done yet...
GOAL! Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania | Ryan Mendes 88'
18:46 , Matt Verri
CAPE VERDE IN FRONT!
Mendes steps up to the penalty spot and he makes no mistake.
PENALTY CAPE VERDE!
18:45 , Matt Verri
Disaster for Mauritania!
Elwely tried to head the ball back to his goalkeeper, instead lays it on a plate for Gilson. He goes round Niasse and is cleaned out.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:43 , Matt Verri
85 mins: Cabral is coming off for Cape Verde, with Gilson introduced.
Looking more and more likely that this match will be heading into an extra 30 minutes...
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:41 , Matt Verri
83 mins: Rare chance for Mauritania to attack and ease the pressure, they waste it though.
Elwely had team-mates up in support, but it's a tame pass and Cape Verde have the ball back.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:38 , Matt Verri
80 mins: Corner whipped in, Mendes flicks the header on and it's a brilliant reaction save!
Niasse keeping his country in this, Mauritania really hanging on now.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:36 , Matt Verri
78 mins: Rodrigues cuts inside onto his right foot, decent effort by the Cape Verde man and it's parried out.
Rebounds falls for Cabral, catches the strike well but it's deflected wide. Yet another corner coming up.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:34 , Matt Verri
76 mins: Cape Verde getting closer...
Monteiro swings in the corner, Kamara flicks a header just wide of the far post.
Time for another cooling break.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:33 , Matt Verri
75 mins: With Bebe off the pitch, Cape Verde try crossing in their free-kicks.
Immediately more dangerous, Diaw does well to charge down a cross and concede a corner.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:29 , Matt Verri
71 mins: And that will pretty much be Bebe's final touch.
He trudges off as his number goes up. Duarte also off, as Rocha and Rodrigues come on.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:26 , Matt Verri
68 mins: Surely not.
Free-kick Cape Verde, this must be 45 yards out. It's not far off the halfway line.
Bebe is lining it up though and he's gone for goal... deflected and away for a corner. That was never troubling the goalkeeper.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:24 , Matt Verri
66 mins: Tanjy off for Mauritania, Ba on in his place.
We'll have a second change too, with Amar being replaced by Kamara.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:22 , Matt Verri
64 mins: Bebe about 40 yards out, so no surprise that he's shaping up to shoot. Within his range, but he's quickly closed down.
Cape Verde have been on top for much of this half, but the biggest chance of the match has come and gone for Mauritania.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:17 , Matt Verri
59 mins: HUGE MISS!
Amar slips the ball through to Anne, clean through inside the area but he slices an effort wide! Ten yards out, had to score.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:15 , Matt Verri
57 mins: Better from Mauritania, they've won a free-kick in a really dangerous position.
Great effort! Koita whips it over the wall, plenty of pace but it flicks the roof of the net.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:13 , Matt Verri
55 mins: Bebe has had a pretty quiet match. Largely playing out on the left, hasn't really been able to get on the ball.
Mauritania look to break, Anne makes the run in behind but the ball doesn't reach him. Lopes reads it.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:08 , Matt Verri
50 mins: Whatever the message was for Cape Verde at half-time, it's working. Duarte's shot flies just wide after taking a big deflection.
Corner. Taken short, but Mauritania get enough bodies out wide to clear the danger. Blue Sharks firmly on top.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
18:05 , Matt Verri
47 mins: Keita beaten out wide, Cabral curls an effort at goal from a tight angle. Comfortable save.
Rebound falls for Bebe, his scuffed effort is blocked and Mauritania hack the ball away.
Back underway!
18:02 , Matt Verri
Up and running for the second-half!
First-half stats...
17:54 , Matt Verri
Cape Verde have had 71% of possession in the match so far. Doesn't feel like that much, Mauritania have had plenty of promising moments themselves.
Four shots each - one on target for Mauritania, none for Cape Verde.
Mendes as close as anyone to opening the scoring, when his early shot was deflected into the side netting.
HT: Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:48 , Matt Verri
Nothing to split them after 45 minutes.
Mauritania have looked dangerous when they've got forward, but Cape Verde have had the majority of possession as expected.
Feels like we could be in for a long evening...
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:46 , Matt Verri
45 mins: Mendes breaking away down the left for Cape Verde, but he runs straight into Keita. Would have been in had he beaten the full-back.
Two minutes added on.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:42 , Matt Verri
41 mins: Amar makes a great run down the left for Mauritania, wins a corner for his side. Up come the defenders.
Taken short, worked well but the ball is poor when it eventually comes in from Mouhsine. Hacked away at the near post.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:39 , Matt Verri
38 mins: It's becoming increasingly scrappy, lots of fouls breaking up the flow of the match.
Duarte the latest player to dive in, as Fofana is tripped.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:35 , Matt Verri
35 mins: Potential sub coming up, as the match gets underway.
Mauritania are being forced into a change. Gassama is being stretchered off, Fofana on in his place in midfield.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:32 , Matt Verri
31 mins: Time for the first cooling break.
Mauritania will be more than satisfied with how it's gone so far. Right in this match.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:30 , Matt Verri
29 mins: Neither side have had a shot on target yet.
It's been a decent watch though, both attacking with plenty of pace when they get the chance.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:27 , Matt Verri
26 mins: Good spell this for Cape Verde, they're firmly on top now.
No surprise that Bebe is leading the charge, trying his luck from 25 yards out as the ball is cleared out to him from a corner. Catches the shot well, but it's deflected away.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:23 , Matt Verri
22 mins: Free-kick out wide for Cape Verde, chance for Bebe to whip something in with pace.
Think he might actually have gone for goal there... and it's miles over everyone. Went for maximum power.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:19 , Matt Verri
18 mins: This referee is pretty keen to wave everything on, not giving any soft free-kicks.
Fernandes charges forward for Cape Verde on the left, goes down just outside the area but he's immediately waved to his feet. Good decision.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:16 , Matt Verri
15 mins: Mouhsine.... whips it wide!
Wasn't too far away, from about 25 yards out. Always just curling wide though.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:15 , Matt Verri
14 mins: Mauritania have started this match so well.
Duarte slides in on Koita, brings him down and that will be a free-kick.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:13 , Matt Verri
12 mins: Pina tries to stop a Mauritania counter with a trip, fails with that so grabs a leg with his hand instead.
No surprise that the yellow card is swiftly shown. Pina arguing that it's his first foul - not a great defence.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:11 , Matt Verri
10 mins: Nearly brilliant from Mendes, as Cape Verde burst into life.
Long ball over the top, perfect first touch and the second is not far away at all from lobbing the goalkeeper.
Niasse was not catching up with that, but the ball bobbles wide.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:08 , Matt Verri
7 mins: Fairly open start to this match, both sides look fairly vulnerable on the counter. Lots of space on offer.
Mauritania have made a really confident start, they've had most of the ball. Keita whips it into the middle, goalkeeper Vozinha fumbles it and is very fortunate that it drops for him to claim.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:04 , Matt Verri
4 mins: Side-netting!
Most inside the stadium, and the commentator, think Cape Verde have taken the lead, but Mendes' shot from the edge of the area is deflected into the side-netting.
Mendes could have played in Bebe, went by himself though. Resulting corner claimed by the goalkeeper.
Cape Verde 0-0 Mauritania
17:03 , Matt Verri
2 mins: Bebe with his first chance to run with the ball.
Keita is across to deal with him though, and gets tripped in the process. Good start from the Mauritania man.
KICK-OFF!
17:00 , Matt Verri
We're up and running!
Here we go!
16:54 , Matt Verri
The teams are out onto the pitch. Not a huge crowd in, but it's fairly evenly split.
Time for the anthems.
"There are no big or small teams"
16:53 , Matt Verri
Mauritania are confident their AFCON story has another chapter or two in it yet...
Mohamed Dellahi is keen on writing history. 🇲🇷
He talks about his goal in Algeria, how it feels to reach the knockout stages & has a message for the fans in the end. 🌟#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | @ffrim
pic.twitter.com/hClfGl3z33— Total Energies AFCON (@TotalAFCON2023) January 29, 2024
Bubista expecting tough test
16:42 , Matt Verri
Cape Verde boss Bubista knows his side are favourites to win this last-16 match, but he is taking nothing for granted.
"Mauritania is a difficult opponent," he said. "This team showed cohesion and quality.
“Their victory against Algeria was well deserved. They have a solid defence. This is going to be a very tactical encounter and we will have to play our cards well and not falter.”
Ba: Abdou is our Mourinho
16:32 , Matt Verri
Mauritania centre-back Lamine Ba has been talking up his manager Amir Abdou.
The Mauritania head coach led Comoros to the knockout stages two years ago, and he's now enjoying another underdog success.
"Our coach is really a man of the people," Ba said.
"He is a leader who makes his players believe, like Jose Mourinho. We want to give our all for him and he is very clear about the idea of how he wants to play - it is up to us to follow this.
"He showed what he can do before with Comoros. For sure, this is a very good coach."
Bebe returns!
16:21 , Matt Verri
Bebe back in the starting lineup for Cape Verde as expected, after he was rested last time out against Egypt.
He's been talking about his country's success at AFCON so far, and his belief that Cape Verde are now being respected.
Tiago Bebé is a man with dreams & ambitions. ✨
He talks about his tough start & how now Cape Verde are definitely favorites to go far in the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023. 🇨🇻 pic.twitter.com/8R0S5MG96Y— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 29, 2024
Mauritania team news
16:14 , Matt Verri
Starting XI: Niasse, Houeibib, Ba, Diaw, Anne, Amar, Keita, Gassama, Mouhsine, Koita, Tanjy
Subs: Abeid, Ba, Ba, Camara, Diaw, Doukara, Elwely, Fofana, Kamara, N'Diaye, Ngom, Thiam
Cape Verde team news
16:10 , Matt Verri
Starting XI: Dias, Moreira, Lopes, Costa, Fernandes, Alvarenga, Pina, Duarte, Mendes, Bebe, Cabral
Subs: Andrade, Borges, Benchimol, Cuca, Santos, Rodrigues, Rosa, Semedo, Silva, Stopira, Tavares, Teixeira
Path to the final...
15:58 , Matt Verri
Why not get ahead of ourselves...
Whoever wins this match will face either Morocco or South Africa in the quarter-finals.
Get through that, and it's Nigeria or Angola in the last-four for a place in the final!
Four teams booked their quarter-finals seats already. 🌟
4 more to go. ⌛#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/F2S6kbrCV6— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 29, 2024
Bebe the star of the show
15:48 , Matt Verri
Bebe has shone for Cape Verde on their way to the knockout stages, before he was rested against Egypt.
Mauritania want to be careful giving away free-kicks basically anywhere in their half, it would appear...
Bebé's long range free-kick gives Cape Verde the lead! 💥 pic.twitter.com/qIAHiHjxlE
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 19, 2024
Mauritania squeeze through
15:37 , Matt Verri
Mauritania looked to be heading out of the tournament, after losing their first two Group D games.
But they stunned Algeria and pulled off a 1-0 win, sneaking them through as one of the best third-placed teams.
Incredible achievement for them to be in the last-16.
Stage is set!
15:30 , Matt Verri
We're about 90 minutes out from kick-off, and Mauritania's first ever knockout match at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny & the dressing rooms never looked better. 🤩
Who will win in this clash? 🇨🇻🇲🇷#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #CPVMTN pic.twitter.com/eoqvydHwHL— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 29, 2024
Cape Verde top group
15:20 , Matt Verri
Cape Verde have been one of the most impressive teams at AFCON so far.
Wins over Ghana and Mozambique booked their place in the last-16 with time to spare, and a much-changed side then earned a draw with Egypt.
Unbeaten, top of Group B... so far, so good!
AFCON drama continues
15:10 , Matt Verri
It's been a brilliant tournament so far and that has continued in the knockout stages.
DR Congo knocked out Egypt last night, winning on penalties. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi stepped up and scored the decisive spot-kick for his country, sparking wild celebrations.
Everyone is celebrating the Leopards’ hero! 🦸🇨🇩
Mpasi did everything to win it yesterday, including scoring a penalty. 😎#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | @FecofaRdc pic.twitter.com/mdRElKHq7m— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 29, 2024
Standard Sport prediction
14:58 , Matt Verri
It is not unfair to say that Mauritania, with two defeats from three, scraped into the knockouts and now face a team which veritably flew past multiple giants of African football to win their group.
Knockout football can throw up some surprises - but Cape Verde are big favourites to keep rolling here.
Cape Verde to win, 2-0.
Mauritania team news
14:52 , Matt Verri
Mauritania are not believed to have too many fitness concerns heading into the match.
Mohamed Dellahi will be assessed though, after he was forced off in the second-half against Algeria, having scored the only goal of the match.
Cape Verde team news
14:45 , Matt Verri
Bubista allowed a handful of his star players to sit out the Blue Sharks' draw with Egypt, having already won the group in double-quick time.
Former Manchester United man Bebe, top-scorer Ryan Mendes plus defenders Diney and Dylan Tavares should be among those returning.
How to watch Cape Verde vs Mauritania
14:37 , Matt Verri
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Football and Main Event, with coverage starting at 4.55pm.
Live stream: Subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here with us!
Good afternoon!
14:29 , Matt Verri
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of Cape Verde vs Mauritania!
The last-16 of the Africa Cup of Nations, with this certainly not a fixture many predicted before the tournament began.
We'll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 5pm GMT from Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.