Cape Verde delivered a dominant performance to eliminate Guinea from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, securing a resounding 4-1 victory in the return leg at the Estádio Nacional de Praia on Wednesday.
Following a 2-2 draw in the first leg played in Thiès, Senegal, Guinea had arrived in Praia with aspirations of securing a place in the second round.
However, their hopes were quickly dashed as Cape Verde capitalized on home advantage, displaying superior attacking efficiency to take full control of the match.
Despite an early goal from Marie Camara, Guinea struggled to contain the relentless attacking play of the Blue Sharks, who dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities.
Their clinical finishing ensured a comfortable victory, leaving Guinea with no chance of a comeback.
Cape Verde marches on to face Mali
With an aggregate score of 6-3, Cape Verde advances to the second round of the qualifiers, where they will face Mali in a highly anticipated encounter.
The team’s performance in Praia demonstrated their growing strength in African women’s football, and they will look to build on this momentum in the next round.
For Guinea, the defeat marks the end of their journey in the 2026 Women’s AFCON qualifiers.
While they showed glimpses of potential, their inability to match Cape Verde’s efficiency proved costly.
As the qualification race intensifies, Cape Verde will now shift focus to their crucial clash with Mali, aiming to take another step toward securing a historic place in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
