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We have to play with courage – Salah speaks on Egypt-Cape Verde match

Acclaimed striker and Pharaohs of Egypt playmaker, Mohamed Salah, has identified courage as a trait his team must muster to win Monday’s match against Cape Verde.

He said Egypt’s national team had the quality to make it to the next round of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in Cote d’Ivoire.

Salah said this on Sunday in Abidjan at the pre-match news conference ahead of the Pharaohs’ last group match against Cape Verde on Monday.

“We need to fight and see what is going to happen. We have great players, I think this is the best 20 to 27 players in Egypt right now.

“We just need to play our game with courage and confidence, I believe we can win the game.

“I think everybody knows what it does mean to win the AFCON; we are always proud to wear the shirts.

“The players are motivated to win the tournament; we all want to win it,” Salah said.

NAN reports that Egypt currently sits second on the group B table with two points behind the group leader, Cape Verde, who have garnered six points after winning two matches.

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SPORTS

AFCON: Group A qualification unpredictable as Burkina Faso beat Cape Verde

Burkina Faso blew open the battle to qualify from Group A of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as they beat Cape Verde 1-0 on Thursday in Yaounde.

A clever finish from Hassane Bande in the 39th minute gave Kamou Malo’s side their first points, after they lost 2-1 to hosts Cameroon in their opening fixture.

Cape Verde were seeking a second win after beginning with victory over Ethiopia, but they produced only one shot on target in each half in a rather insipid attacking display.

Indeed, the only major moment of quality came when Bande used his chest to turn in a ferocious right-wing cross from Issa Kabore to put Burkina Faso ahead.

Cape Verde applied greater pressure in the second half but could not avoid suffering just their second defeat in nine AFCON matches.

The result also puts them under substantial pressure as they must now seek a positive result against group leaders Cameroon to ensure they qualify.

How They Stand

Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

Cameroon 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 6

Burkina Faso 2 1 0 1 2 2 — 3

Cape Verde 2 1 0 1 1 1 — 3

Ethiopia 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0

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INTERNATIONAL

ECOWAS Observer mission arrive Cape Verde ahead of Presidential polls

A delegation of election observers appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived Cape Verde ahead of the nation’s presidential polls.

The delegation known as ECOWAS Long-Term Observers as well as other core team members, are to monitor the polls and report back to the sub-regional body.

The mission which arrives Praia on Oct. 12, have already visited the Praia NOSI Data Centre, a centralised data system that provides digital solutions to Cabo Verde’s government institutions, including on election data management.

This is contained in a statement issued by the ECOWAS on Thursday in Abuja.

The commission said that the mission, led by Mr Francis Oke, was educated on the working of the NOSI.

The team was received at the data center by Lumumba Barbosa, Executive Administrator, after which they were walked through the operationsof the centre and well as its security architecture.

They were informed that the Cape Verdean data centre was built to resist natural or man-made disasters such as fire, tsunami, earthquake, plane crash and other similar occurrence.

The team also visited the General Directorate for Support to the Electoral Process, DGAPE, where its Director General Arlinda Chantre briefed them on various aspects that concerns the elections.

She informed the delegation that the electoral management bodies were already preparing for a possible presidential run-off vote on October 31, as provided for in the electoral Act.

She showed the mission the already packaged election materials which were set for distribution if a run-off election was required.

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SPORTS

BREAKING: Super Eagles rise from behind to beat Cape Verde 2-1 in Quartar 2022 qualifier

Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday in Mindelo beat hosts Cape Verde 2-1 to maintain their lead in Group C of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Nigerian senior male football team only took some minutes to absorb the shock of falling behind to the hosts.

Dylan Tavares scored in the 19th minute of the Match Day 2 fixture at the Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, before the Super eagles rallied back.

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen drew the Super Eagles level in the 29th minute, before an own goal by Kenny Santos in the 75th minute handed Nigeria the win.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, following Friday’s 2-0 win over Liberia’s Lone Star in Lagos, the Super Eagles now have the maximum points from two matches.

Their next match in the qualifiers comes up in October against the Central African Republic (CAR).

Below is the group’s current standings, after two matches each by the four teams:

Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

Nigeria 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6

Liberia 2 1 0 1 1 2 -1 3

Cape Verde 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 1

Central African Republic (CAR) 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1

– NAN