Dangermen: The Cape Verde stars who could rock Bafana

With Bafana Bafana set to take on Cape Verde in a highly-anticipated 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, they must be wary of the danger these opposition stars pose! 

The Blue Sharks have shocked the entire continent by getting to this stage of the competition, and by the looks of it, they are far from done as they look to sky-rocket even further above expectations by looking to stomp on an elated South African side that is the only team to have beaten Morocco since their iconic 2022 FIFA World Cup run. In fact, they did so twice.

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With both nations feeling exuberant following favourable results, one side will come out of the game on Saturday night heartbroken. 

Given the unfathomable amount of shock results and upsets thus far in the tournament, this encounter will be a hard one to predict, with players from both teams able to change the complexion of a game and alter the course of events. 

As such, we take a look at the Cape Verde stars who could do some serious damage if Bafana aren't careful!

Ryan Mendes

The 34-year-old is a true force of nature with the ball at his feet and with him in possession, anything can happen. His explosiveness and creativity is something South Africa's defenders definitely need to be wary of. 

The island nation progressed to the quarters after beating Mauritania by a goal to nil, and it was Mendes' strike that was the only thing that separated the two sides. The Blue Sharks were awarded a penalty very late in the game, and the responsibility to convert it fell on his experienced shoulders.

With the eyes of the continent fixated on him, and the pressure of being responsible for the success of an entire country hanging heavily over his head, he managed to keep his cool, rocketing the ball into the back of the net. That sort of composure will come in handy should the game against Bafana end up being a tight encounter and he is presented with a chance to score, either from a dead-ball situation or in open play. 

Mendes has managed to create three chances for his side over the course of the competition, suggesting he may have the keys to unlock a well-organised defence. With a goal and an assist in the competition so far, the veteran could cause some serious trouble for South Africa. 

Bebe 

Although he is known widely for his torrid spell at Manchester United, the 2023 edition of the tournament presented an opportunity to reinvent himself and repair his reputation, and thus far he has obliged. The 33-year-old is proving to be a pivotal cog in this well-run Cape Verde machine under the guidance of head coach Pedro Leitao Brito, commonly known as "Bubista". With the experience in the squad, the Blue Sharks are equipped with the tools for nearly every situation, and Bebe is a prime example of this. 

The Rayo Vallecano man is proving to be a constant threat for defences in the competition, completing a total of 13 take-on attempts, and on two occasions his ball-carrying ability has led to shots at goal, according to Opta Analyst. He has taken a total of 11 shots and recorded an xG (expected goals) of 0.62. He has scored just once in the showpiece so far, but the lesson that can be taken from that goal is that Bebe has it in his locker to score from outrageous distances. 

Aside from being part of a tournament that his country will never forget, he scored a 40-yard screamer that will be remembered for a long time to come. 

Jamiro Monteiro

The midfielder who represents Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes epitomises the winning nature of this dangerous Cape Verde side, both on and off the pitch. In their round of 16 encounter against Mauritania, the 30-year-old proved an instrumental figure as his ability, grit, determination and experience all prevailed to help him bag the Man of the Match award while also contributing immensely to the Blue Sharks' victory. 

Monteiro is, however, not a one-match wonder, so the Bafana players will have to be on their toes in the middle of the park and keep a keen eye on the MLS star at all times.

Over the course of the tournament, Monteiro's performance with and without the ball have been noteworthy. The midfielder has bagged a goal and an assist in the four matches he has played. He has also created two chances and has made a total of 100 passes thus far with a completion rate of 90%, so getting the ball off of him will perhaps prove a difficult task for South Africa. 

Off the ball, he has been impressive as well, having won three tackles, made one interception and recovered the ball for his side on 14 occasions. 

He has also embodied the strong mentality of Cape Verde. Speaking after their round of 16 triumph, Monteiro stated that there is still more to come. 

"I'd like to dedicate this [MOTM] award to Cape Verde and to all the people who support us. It's fantastic, we've taken another step forward, but we haven't shown everything yet," he said, per CAF.

"We can still do a lot, but the most important thing is to qualify for the quarter-finals."

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