Cape Verde suffered a home defeat in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The national team lost 2-1 to Rwanda at the Estádio Nacional in Praia on Tuesday, September 29, a result that complicates their path in Group K.
Gilson Benchimol gave the Blue Sharks the lead in the 40th minute, but Rwanda responded before halftime. This was Cape Verde's second consecutive loss in the qualification phase, leaving the team without a single point.
How the match unfolded
Cape Verde started brightly and created danger, culminating in Benchimol's goal. Humberto Bettencourt's side could not, however, hold onto the lead. Rwanda's equaliser in the final minute of the first half changed the course of the match. The second half was more balanced, but Rwanda were more clinical, deciding the game with a strike from Tatou seven minutes after the restart.
What the coach said
Humberto Bettencourt acknowledged the team's poor moment. "The national football team suffered another defeat and remains without points in Group K," the coach said after the match. Bettencourt took charge of the team following the departure of Pedro Leitão Brito and now faces a complex challenge to rebuild the side.
With this defeat, Cape Verde remain bottom of Group K, which also includes Mali and Liberia. The team urgently needs to reverse results to dream of qualifying for the final tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The next fixture is a key home match against Liberia on November 11.
The team's recent form reads one win, three draws and one loss from the last five games, including a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in July. The focus now returns to work for the November 11 encounter at the Estádio Nacional.
Background and full detail: Terra
