AFCON 2023: Bafana Bafana Head to Head Stats With Cape Verde Ahead of Quarter Final

• Bafana Bafana play Cape Verde in the quarter-finals of AFCON 2023
• Hugo Broos' team will be aiming for their first semi-final in 23 years
• Cape Verde made their AFCON debut 10 years ago in South Africa

South Africa and Cape Verde collide in Yamoussoukro for a place in AFCON 2023's semi-finals.

The teams have an even record against each other and will play for the second time at Africa's showpiece.

Cape Verdean football has improved considerably in the last decade while South Africa has a renewed spring in their tournament step.

The nations first played each other in 2004 in a World Cup qualifier. South Africa won that encounter 2-1 and repeated that result in 2005.

However, Bafana Bafana have failed to win the next three ties, drawing 0-0 in 2013 and losing twice in 2017. The head-to-head standings are dead even, with both teams winning two of the five games, scoring and conceding six each.

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5 important Bafana Bafana vs Cape Verde stats

1. Cape Verde in form

Tubarões Azuis have won more games at this AFCON than they have in any of their previous tournaments combined. Their eight goals in 2023 are also more than the six they scored in their previous 11 AFCON match, as per CAF.

The islanders made their debut at the 2013 edition in South Africa, playing the hosts and tonight's opponents in the opening match. A win against Bafana Bafana will be a synergistic cherry on top of a transformative decade.

2. Clean sheet omen

When South Africa won the 1996 AFCON on their home debut, they did so on the back of solid defence. They conceded only two goals, keeping clean sheets against Cameroon, Angola, Ghana and Tunisia.

Ronwen Williams earned his third consecutive clean sheet against Morocco and could equal Andre Arendse's four clean sheets in the 1996 competition.

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3. Trusted XI vs squad depth

Hugo Broos has only made minor changes to his starting XI since the competition began, going with the same lineup in the last three matches. Grant Kekana replaced Siyanda Xula and Thapelo Maseko was swapped for Thapelo Morena.

On the opposite bench, Pedro Brito had made 14 changes to his four starting line-ups, the second-highest of any team in the competition, illustrating the variety of options they possess.

4. 'Mshishi' Bafana Bafana's key man

Themba Zwane has repaid the faith shown in him by the Belgian boss by being a dominant creative force. He has two goals and an assist, playing a part in half of South Africa's goals at the tournament.

The last time South Africa made the semi-finals was in 2000 when Shaun Bartlett scored five goals and Zwane could be the first to reach three at an AFCON since that edition.

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5. Ryan Mendes a Cape Verde lynchpin

Like Bafana Bafana's number 10, Ryan Mendes has had a hand in half of Cape Verde's goals in 2023. His two goals and two assists are the best return for a Cape Verde player at an AFCON, as per TransferMarkt.

The 34-year-old Fatih Karagümrük winger is part of a running attack that has a tournament-high 95 attempted dribbles, meaning Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba are in for a busy evening.

Arendse praise Bafana's attitude

Sports Brief recently reported on AFCON 1996 winner, Andre Arendse's thoughts on South Africa's progress.

Bafana Bafana have been impressive since their 2-0 defeat to Mali, grinding out several positive results.

The Cape Town Spurs, Fulham and Santos legend had a professional career spanning 20 years.