Cape Verde vs Cameroon – AFCON: Live score, team news and updates

Cape Verde vs Cameroon LIVE: Group A reaches its conclusion as the already-qualified host nation take on a Blue Sharks side slugging it out with Burkina Faso to join them

  • Latest scores: Cameroon 0-0 Cape Verde; Burkina Faso 1-0 Ethiopia 
  • Group A reaches its conclusion with hosts Cameroon taking on Cape Verde 
  • At the same time, Burkina Faso play Ethiopia to determine who will qualify
  • Cameroon are already through with Burkina Faso and Cape Verde in with a shout of taking second place and advancing to the last-16 
  • Latest AFCON news, including live action and results 
  • AFCON group stage tables – as it stands 

Group A reaches its conclusion on Monday afternoon with Cape Verde and Burkina Faso fighting it out to join Cameroon in the AFCON last-16.

The host nation come into their final group stage match against Cape Verde in Yaounde safe in the knowledge they have qualified.

Burkina Faso, who take on Ethiopia in Bafoussam at the same time, and Cape Verde both have three points with the former ahead by virtue of their 1-0 win over the latter on matchday two.  

Follow Sportsmail’s DAN RIPLEY for live Africa Cup of Nations coverage of Cape Verde vs Cameroon, including build-up, team news and updates.  

Host commentator

This is bad news for Cape Verde from the other match. Burkina Faso, their rivals for that second spot in Group A, lead thanks to the Ajaccio midfielder Cyrille Bayala. The goal came on 25 minutes, a deft lob from the edge of the box with the Ethiopian keeper off his line.

That means Burkina Faso are currently on six points, two ahead of Cape Verde.

Cameroon trying their best to go up a gear but Cape Verde look very well organised with their line of five defenders and another bank of four midfielders. Belt and braces approach to the game but it’s been effective so far

Play slows as Kenny Rocha Santos, the Cape Verde midfielder, tries to get the game stopped because his boot has come loose. Good luck with that one. Just as well his side were in possession at the time!

Great trivia on the Sky commentary of the game – there are over one million expats from Cape Verde dotted around the world.

And Patrick Vieira, Henrik Larsson and Nani are among the star footballers who would have been eligible to represent them!

Vincent Aboubakar is enjoying a great tournament and he was alive there, peeling off his marker to connect on the volley as Moumi Ngamleu crosses well from the right. Plenty of power but can’t keep it down as the ball flies over the goal and onto the running track.

Cape Verde settling down a bit now and enjoying a little more of the ball.

Still goalless in the Burkina Faso vs Ethiopia game as it is here.

Cape Verde have shown nothing going forward so far but almost are gifted a chance by Cameroon’s Michael Ngadeu as he mis-controls and has to be bailed out by Nouhou Tolo at left-back.

A crucial intervention from the Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto Lopes after Stopira, the left centre-half, was caught out.

Cameroon attack again and a low drive there by Michael Ngadeu, who’d stayed forward from the corner, is saved by Cape Verde keeper Vozinha. There was a clash of heads in the middle that the referee hadn’t seen and it’s uncertain the goal would have stood.

So what is the strategy here for Cape Verde? A draw is probably not going to be enough, or at least leaves them in considerable limbo for the next few days. They need all three points.

But they know they’ll be required to absorb a lot of pressure here. So sit back, bide their time and hit Cameroon on the break when they can? Seems to be the policy on the basis of the early minutes.

Cameroon seeing pretty much all of the ball in these opening minutes and they force a first corner 90 seconds in after the full-back Collins Fai burst forward.

The delivery comes in and Saint-Etienne defender Harold Moukoudi heads the ball some way wide.

We are off and running in the final matches of Group A. The Cameroon coach Antonio Conceicao, interestingly, has decided just to make three changes even though they have already qualified.

One of those given a rest if Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting of Bayern Munich.

Cameroon, in colours of yellow, green and red, get us started.

A huge cheer goes up around the stadium as Samuel Eto’o, who is in attendance, is shown on the big screen. He responds with a cheery wave.

It’s a case of so far, so good for the hosts with those two wins from two and as they line up for the national anthems, they can enjoy their football today.

That’s unlike Cape Verde, who need a positive result really to put themselves in the strongest possible position to make it through to the last 16.

A sultry afternoon in the Cameroonian capital, with temperatures in the high 20s, as the two teams emerge into a stadium that may only be half-full, potentially less, but it buzzing with expectation.



There was plenty of pressure on Cameroon as the host nation and so far they haven’t done too much wrong.

They won the tournament opener against Burkina Faso 2-1 but had to come from behind thanks to two Vincent Aboubakar penalties late in the first-half.

And it was a similar story in their second match when Dawa Hotessa handed Ethiopia a surprise lead just four minutes in.

But the Indomitable Lions were just that, roaring back thanks to doubles from Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi to record a comfortable 4-1 win.

That continued Cameroon’s excellent form and they now have the opportunity to win a seventh straight match with much of the pressure removed.

As for the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde, they beat Ethiopia 1-0 in their first match thanks to a winner from Julio Tavares in first-half stoppage time.

But they lost 1-0 to Burkina Faso in their second game so there’s plenty of work to do.

Cape Verde: Josimar Jose Vozinha, Diney, Lopes, Stopira, Jeffrey Fortes, Andrade, Rocha Santos, Dylan Tavares, Lisandro Semedo, Monteiro, Willy Semedo
Substitutes: Marco Soares, Gilson Tavares, Rodrigues, Rosa, Ponck, Willis Furtado, Steven Fortes, Vagner, Kevin Sousa, Paulo, Nenass, Delmiro

Cameroon: Andre Onana, Fai, Moukoudi, Ngadeu Ngadjui, Tolo, Gouet, Ngamaleu, Kunde, Zambo, Toko Ekambi, Aboubakar
Substitutes: Efala, Oyongo, N’Jie, Bahoken, Bassogog, Choupo-Moting, Epassy, Mbaizo, Onguene, Jean Onana, Lea Siliki, Neyou.

Welcome along to our coverage of the final round of fixture in Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Hosts Cameroon are set to play Cape Verde safe in the knowledge they have already sealed their place in the last-16 of the competition with two wins from two so far.

But for their opponents, it’s all to play for as they try and overhaul Burkina Faso, in action at the same time against Ethiopia, to snatch second place.

Burkina Faso currently occupy second spot by virtue of their win over Cape Verde on matchday two but the Blue Sharks are ready to capitalise on any slip-ups.

If it doesn’t happen today, they still have the chance to make the knockout round as one of the best third-placed sides but nothing is guaranteed.

You can follow all the twists and turns right here.


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