adminJOHANNESBURG. – Cape Verde Islands shocked Tunisia 2-0 in Rades on Saturday to reach the Africa zone play-offs in the 2014 World Cup soccer qualifying competition. Platini and Nhuck — two of many Cape Verdean footballers who use nicknames — scored in the first half to trigger celebrations in the islands state of 500 000 inhabitants.
Victory lifted the “Blue Sharks” to 12 points, one more than four-time World Cup qualifiers Tunisia, and completed a remarkable Group B comeback.
The surprise 2013 African Cup of Nations quarter-finalists were pointless after three rounds, then Fifa changed a loss in Malabo to a 3-0 win because of an ineligible Equatorial Guinea player.
Home victories against the Equatoguineans and Sierra Leone brought the Cape Verdeans back into contention — but they had to win in Tunisia.
The “Carthage Eagles” were favoured to qualify for the play-off series as they had home advantage and the confidence boost of a 2-1 win in Praia.
But goals from Cyprus-based Platini and Portugal-based Nhuck rocked the Tunisians, whose second-half pressure went unrewarded.
Tunisia were not the only “big name” to fall – 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa bit the dust despite a 4-1 win over Botswana in Durban.
Bottom Group A seeds Ethiopia came from behind to edge Central African Republic 2-1 in Congo and finish two points ahead of Bafana Bafana (The Boys).
Burkina Faso completed an amazing Group E comeback by defeating Gabon 1-0 in Ouagadougou and pipping Congo Brazzaville.
The “Stallions” trailed the “Red Devils” by six points with three rounds to go, but three consecutive victories squeezed them through. — AFP.
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