Togo vs Cape Verde

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In pursuit of their third consecutive victory, Togo is set to host Cape Verde in the final round of Group B matches in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this upcoming Sunday.

While Paulo Duarte's team will be competing for pride, Cape Verde's Blue Sharks have an opportunity to surpass Burkina Faso and claim the top spot in the group standings if they secure all three points at the Stade de Kegeu.

Togo secured their initial victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a comfortable 2-0 win over Eswatini at the Mbombela Stadium on June 18. Cercle Brugge forward Kevin Denkey opened the scoring early in the game, followed by a 92nd-minute strike from 28-year-old Euloge Fessou Placca.

Before that, Duarte's squad ended their four-game winless streak on June 14 with a 2-0 triumph over Lesotho, thanks to goals from Yawo Evra Agbagno and Denkey.

Despite their recent resurgence, Togo's chances of qualifying for the 2023 AFCON were already dashed as they currently occupy third place in Group B, trailing Cape Verde by five points as they approach the final group match.

Togo will return to their home ground, where they haven't been defeated in their last eight matches across all competitions, securing three wins and five draws since their 1-0 loss against Namibia in September 2031.

On the other hand, Cape Verde secured their spot in Ivory Coast in their last match with a 3-1 victory over Burkina Faso at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde. After Bebe and Issoufou Dayo scored goals for their respective teams to end the first half level, second-half strikes from Joao Paulo and substitute Cle secured the win for the hosts.

Under coach Bubista, Cape Verde has accumulated three wins and one draw in their four qualifying matches since their initial 2-0 defeat against Burkina Faso in the Group B opener on June 3. They currently sit second in the table with 10 points out of a possible 15, trailing Burkina Faso, who will face Eswatini at the Stade de Marrakech on Friday evening.

Cape Verde's Blue Sharks, who reached the round of 16 in the 2021 AFCON, enter the weekend unbeaten in their last five games across all competitions, registering three wins and two draws since their 2-0 loss against Sierra Leone in July 2022.

Kevin Denkey, who has been in impressive goal-scoring form with 10 goals and assists in his last 14 appearances for both his club and country, is expected to lead Togo's attack once again, possibly alongside strike partner Euloge Fessou Placca, along with Karim Dermane and Raja Club Athletic's Roger Aholou.

For Sunday's clash, Bubista has selected a 25-man squad, including Fatih Karagumruk forward Ryan Mendes, who holds the record for the most caps for the nation with 63 appearances. Mendes, who is also one goal away from becoming Cape Verde's top scorer, is likely to lead the attack, supported by Gilson Tavares and 27-year-old winger Lisandro Semedo.

In defense, we anticipate a back four consisting of Joao Paulo, Steve Furtado, Logan Costa, and Joao Correia, with 37-year-old Vozinha as the goalkeeper.

Togo aims to build on their previous 2-0 away victory over Eswatini in the qualifiers in June, with goals from Ahoueke Denkey and Meme Placca securing the win.

Cape Verde, on the other hand, secured a 2-1 home win over Burkina Faso in their last qualifier. Bebe and Joao Paulo scored on either side of Issoufou Dayo's goal, propelling them to the top of Group B with 10 points from five games and ensuring their qualification for the Nations Cup. In contrast, Togo currently occupies the third spot with five points and has been eliminated from further contention.