Cabo Verde hosts Rwanda in the second matchday of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, after entering with the wrong foot in the visit to Mali (1-3), under Portuguese coach Tony da Silva.
The group is mentally strong and confident that it will conquer the three points, said former Sporting winger Jovane Cabral in the preview to the game, after a debut that did not go as he wished.
The 28-year-old winger of Grémio admits that the team is still in a phase of adaptation to the new coach, Humberto Bettencourt.
We are trying to implement the coach’s ideas. We trust him and we want to beat Rwanda, Cabral said.
Forward Nuno da Costa considers that it is necessary to maintain the structure and the aggressiveness, since playing in Africa is different.
The Blue Sharks enter action tomorrow at 15:00 in Cidade da Praia.
The referee responsible for officiating this important game between Cabo Verde and Rwanda will be Djindo Louis Houngnandande, who will try to keep tempers under control and guarantee a good match throughout these 90 exciting minutes.
Cabo Verde scored first after a break that ended in a cross that Mendes sent into the area; the ball traveled and ended up being pushed by Gilson Benchimol to open the score.
Rwanda equalized early. After a corner, the ball reached the edge of the area for Claude Niyomugabo, who took a powerful shot from outside the area to level the score.
In the second half, Rwanda scored again. From a controlled exit, Mickels sent a good cross into the area, where Elie Iradukunda appeared to push the ball into the back of the net guarded by Vozinha.
Rwanda made two modifications: Gilber Mugisha and Leroy-Jacques Mickels left the field after a good game; Jojea Kwizera and Emeran entered.
Cabo Verde moved its pieces to search for a way to orchestrate a good moment ahead; it needed to reverse the situation and go back to looking to add goals.
Djé and Ayoni Santos, the players who left the field, could not create more risky moments ahead; Nuno da Costa and Jovane Cabral entered the match.
Ntwari is attended after a play; everything indicates that the player will be able to continue having activities in this game.
