Cape Verde vs Mauritania

Tuesday's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match between Cape Verde and Mauritania will take place at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde.

While the visitors hope to build on their triumph in the first round of the competition, the hosts are looking for their first points.

Cape Verde's attempt to qualify for a sixth AFCON appearance was severely impeded last Friday at the Cairo International Stadium, when they were crushed 3-0.

Before their encounter against the Pharaohs, the Blue Sharks had kept five clean sheets in their previous six games in all competitions. However, their defense crumbled under pressure, allowing eight shots on goal, three of which found the back of the net.

In order to achieve history and secure the West African island nation's third consecutive AFCON appearance, Bubista's team must defeat Mauritania; failing to do so could cause that possibility to progressively fade.

In their three prior games, which took place in neutral venues during championships, Cape Verde emerged victorious in their most recent encounter, which took place earlier this year at the 2023 AFCON.

Anything less than a win on Tuesday might make qualifying more challenging for the Blue Sharks, who have won three of their past four home games and drawn one.

In their first AFCON qualification encounter, Mauritania defeated Botswana 1-0 thanks to a stunning goal scored by Sidi Bouna Amar, who came off the bench. This victory put an end to Mauritania's streak of five games without a win.

The Lions of Chinguetti have had a difficult 2024; Amir Abdou would be relieved with the victory as his team had lost six games and drawn two of the previous nine until last Saturday.

It also marked the end of Mauritania's five-match goalless skid. Going into Tuesday's meeting, they have a chance to win and score in back-to-back games for the first time since September and October 2023.

But the last time the visitors triumphed away from home was in June 2023 against the Central African Republic; since then, they have suffered defeats to Congo DR and drawn with South Sudan.