South Africa, Cape Verde go through
Morocco’s Taoussi in tears after tournament exit while Algeria also knocked out
Anight of unrelenting emotion ended in joy for South Africa and Cape Verde Islands and sorrow for Morocco and Angola as the four Group A teams served up an African Nations Cup treat on Sunday.
While hosts South Africa and debutants Cape Verde rejoiced, Morocco and Angola were left shattered because at various stages of the evening they seemed to be on the brink of a place in the quarter- finals.
The occasion certainly got to the coaches too. Cape Verde’s Lucio Antunes burst into song during his post- match news conference while Morocco’s Rachid Taoussi burst into tears.
South Africa’s 2- 2 draw with Morocco at the Moses Mab- hida Stadium in Durban meant they topped the group with five points from three games, followed by Cape Verde in second place on the same total after a stunning 2- 1 comeback win against Angola at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Morocco went home unbeaten after three successive draws while Angola finished bottom with one point.
Over in Port Elizabeth, Cape Verde equalised against Angola though Gege but that goal did not materially change much — it just meant that Cape Verde might finish on three points and Angola on two.
But what happened next changed everything as South Africa equalised against Morocco with four minutes to play.
“We knew what was going on in the other match, that’s why I told the players to attack till the end,” Antunes said.
Attack they did and Angola goalkeeper Lama made a dreadful attempt at stopping a speculative cross in the dying minutes, leaving substitute Heldon to stab the ball home in almost comic slow- motion.
With that the entire Cape Verde bench leaped high into the air and on to the pitch to engulf Heldon and anyone else in their path to celebrate one of the greatest international fairytales.