Cape Verde were dominant in a 3-1 triumph over Burkina Faso at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde on Sunday.
The spectators erupted with joy as Bebé opened scoring in the 7th minute, expertly finishing off a play orchestrated by Cape Verde’s Patrick Andrade.
Comfortable on home turf, the Islanders seized control of the game, leaving their Burkinabe opponents devoid of offensive tactics.
A notable instance saw Tapsoba failing to capitalise on an opportunity created by a lapse by the Cape Verdean defence.
While the Blue Sharks impressed offensively, they did encounter some lapses in concentration during defensive transitions.
Taking advantage of these moments, Issoufou Dayo found the back of the net with a scrambled finish just before halftime.
As the teams emerged from the locker room, the Burkinabe side failed to regain their composure, losing their captain Bertrand Traoré to injury.
A significant blow for the semi-finalists of the previous AFCON, who found themselves suffocated by their West African rivals.
Fernandes’ 76th-minute strike from the right wing restored the advantage for Cape Verde.
In the dying moments of the game, Andrade delivered the final blow, netting the third goal past Kilian Nikiema.
With this remarkable victory, Cape Verde secure their place in the upcoming Côte d’Ivoire tournament, marking a significant achievement for the Blue Sharks. (NAN)
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