Cape Verde seek Mandela’s inspiration for Bafana’s clash

Cape Verde coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito has ironically drawn inspiration from Nelson Mandela ahead of Saturday’s battle with Bafana Bafana. South Africa confront the Blue Sharks in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) quarterfinals. Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro Stadium in Ivory Coast will host the game.

ALSO READ: AFCON 2023: Where are Cape Verde ranked in the world?

HOW CAPE VERDE BOOKED A DATE WITH MANDELA’S ‘SONS’

To reach the last-eight phase, Hugo Broos’ men dispatched battling Morocco with a 2-0 win on Tuesday. Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena scored in the second half to dump out the Atlas Lions. In the opposite camp, the dark horses edged Mauritania 1-0 in the other round-of-16 contest. Skipper Ryan Mendes’ 88^th minute strike was all the West Africans needed to beat Mauritania in Abidjan on Monday.

ALSO READ: Cape Verde: ALL you need to know about Bafana Bafana’s AFCON opponents

WHY CAPE VERDE ARE GETTING MANDELA’S INSPIRATION

Now, the stage is set for the quarterfinals meeting between South Africa and Cape Verde. Ahead of the game, Bubista sought inspiration from Mandela’s values. Madiba freed black South Africans from the oppressive apartheid regime. He became South Africa’s first black president in 1994, then retired in 1999. The Nobel Peace Prize winner died on December 15 2013, at 95. Some 11 years later, the world still remembers him. It is in that contest that Bubista praised Mandela while seeking to motivate the Blue Sharks.

ALSO READ: Bafana Bafana vs Cape Verde: When does AFCON quarter-final take place?

WHAT BUBISTA TOLD THE PRESS IN IVORY COAST

Jornal Opais newspaper of Cape Verde has quoted Bubista saying he expects Mandela’s ethos of fairness and equality in the Bafana Bafana’s duel. A headline in the newspaper reads: Bubista praises South Africa whose leader Mandela taught to treat everyone as equal. The Blue Sharks mentor spoke to a radio station in Abidjan. The trainer mentioned the freedom fighter ahead of Cape Verde’s relocation to the venue of the match in Yamussucro.

ALSO READ: PSL transfer rumours: Mamelodi Sundowns to nab Kaizer Chiefs target

“Bubista expressed his satisfaction at being able to face the team from South Africa, the country of Nelson Mandela, a figure who taught to treat everyone as equal,” a translated version of Jornal Opais.cv reads. . The coach said his wards want to better their previous Afcon record of reaching the quarterfinals. “We always think about being better regardless of the opponent,” Bubista said “…we always try to do our best and achieve our goal of reaching the semi-finals. We will travel this path with responsibility; a spirit of unity and patriotism.”

ALSO READ: Bafana Bafana to play R47 million match

INJURY CONCERNS AHEAD OF SATURDAY’S AFCON CLASH?

Meanwhile, Cape Verde have suffered some minor setbacks in training with some key players picking knocks. The newspaper says goalkeeper Marcio da Rosa, defender Steven Moreira and Mendes did not participate in training at Charles Konan Banny Stadium on Wednesday due to the injuries. The players are doubtful for the Bafana Bafana match.