NOS Voetbal•Friday, 6:38 PM•Adjusted Friday, 8:47 PM
The Rotterdam-based Cape Verde has become the first country to qualify for the knockout phase of the Africa Cup. The smallest participating nation in the tournament secured a group win with a 3-0 win over Mozambique.
Later on Friday, title holder Senegal also secured the round of 16 by beating Cameroon 3-1.
AFPDeroy Duarte (r) in action during the match against Mozambique
No fewer than four Rotterdam natives are members of the selection of the Cape Verdean football team. This concerns Deroy Duarte (Fortuna Sittard) and brother Laros Duarte (FC Groningen), Garry Rodrigues (former player of FC Dordrecht, among others) and Jamiro Monteiro (ex-Heracles Almelo and SC Cambuur).
Monteiro and Deroy Duarte were in the starting line-up against Mozambique and Rodrigues was allowed to come on for fifteen minutes. Laros Duarte stayed on the bench for the entire match.
In the run-up to the third goal, Deroy Duarte gave a simple pass to Kevin Lenini, who then scored with a beautiful swipe from more than 25 meters.
Farthest goal from direct free kick
The opening goal was even better. Bebé shot in a free kick from 39.5 meters. That is the furthest goal from a direct free kick at the Africa Cup since statistics agency Opta kept track of this data.
Cape Verde, the archipelago from the Atlantic Ocean, won the first two group matches and can no longer be overtaken by Egypt, which is four points behind with one match to go.
Cape Verde surprised by winning the first group match 2-1 against four-time African champion Ghana, where former Ajax player Mohammed Kudus is part of the selection.
