27th January, 2013
Hosts South Africa and debutants Cape Verde Islands reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a dramatic finale to Group A on Sunday. They join, tournament favourites, Ivory Coast, which qualified after winning their first two games.
South Africa came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Morocco in Durban and Cape Verde scored twice in the final 10 minutes to defeat Angola 2-1 in the first meeting of two Portuguese-speaking nations in the competition.
Cape Vaerde, who have a population of about 500,000 people, finished second behind South Africa with 5 points, same as the hosts of this year’s AFCON, the Bafana Bafana, who played 2-2 draw with Morocco this evening to move to the last eight, while Morocco and Angola are out of the competition.
Cape Verde came from behind to defeat Angola at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where the made history on the evening.
A first half own-goal from Cape Verde captain Nando had put the Sable Antelopes ahead, but late strikes from Fernando Varela and Heldon saw the Blue Sharks to their first victory in the AFCON, and secured a place in the next round, while Bafana Bafana fought back to draw with Morocco in a concurrent and action packed encounter in Durban.
Angola were the first to threaten for a goal, as captain and star striker Manucho headed wide of the far post via a free kick in the 12th minute.
The Antelopes dominated the opening 20 minutes, but it was soon the turn of the Islanders to begin to find a foothold in the game and posed some tough questions for their opponent’s defence.
Angola finally scored their first goal of the tournament in the 33rd minute, when Gilberto whipped in a low cross from the left flank, but Nando sliced the ball into his own net.
The Blue Sharks almost came up with an immediate reply, as Babanco’s free kick was flicked off target by Julio Tavares in the 36th minute. Few minutes later, Angola goalkeeper Lama parried away a well-hit drive from Platini.
Cape Verde introduced Heldon and Djaniny at the start of the second half, and nearly forced an equaliser soon after the restart, with Julio Tavares seeing a goal-bound header cleared off the line by Manucho Dinis.
On 66 minutes Heldon almost forced a goal for the Blue Sharks with a well-struck free kick, but Lama pushed the ball away to keep his side in the ascendancy.
With about 10 minutes left, Fernando Varela forced home a header from a rebound at a corner kick, making it 1-1 and giving Cape Verde genuine hope that they would progress.
The Islanders’ dream finally came true when Heldon latched onto a rebound off goalkeeper Lama, and fired home a left-footed shot to make it 2-1 and secured a famous victory for the first timers at the AFCON.
Also, Siyabonga Sangweni equalised for Bafana Bafana with less than five minutes left in their match against Morocco in Durban same day, as the hosts booked their place in the quarter final for the first time in a decade.
Issam el Adoua netted from a well placed header in the 10th minute to give Morocco a 1-0 lead at halftime, but Mahlangu struck back for South Africa in the 71st minute.
And while Mehdi Namli put Morocco in front again with less than eight minutes to full time, Sangweni scored few minutes to the end of the tension-soaked match.
South Africa, who last reached the Nations Cup quarter final at the 2002 tournament held in Mali, finished top of Group A.
They will face Group B runners-up at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, while debutants Cape Verde, who finished second will face Group B winners in Port Elizabeth in the next round.