Pico Lopes on Cape Verde South Africa showdown: 'We know what is at stake. If we win on Saturday that is a semi-final and that will be huge.'

Cape Verde have already made history in the Ivory Coast by making their first Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.

A win on Saturday night against South Africa (kick-off 8pm – SKY/BBC Three) will see the Blue Sharks play right to the final weekend of this AFCON tournament with two more games – a semi-final and then either the final on 11 February or a third place play-off the day before.

It will mean Shamrock Rovers will have to wait a while longer to see their defender Pico Lopes line out in League of Ireland action at the start of the season but we suspect their fans won’t mind given the level of support Lopes is receiving from back home in both Cape Verde and Ireland.

“Throughout the week we are getting messages into our WhatsApp group from people who have made songs about the team and messages of good luck,” said Lopes when speaking to Shamrock Rovers TV on the eve of the quarter-final for the Blue Sharks.

A late winner against Mauritania has set up a quarter-final tie with South Africa on Saturday evening 🇨🇻

We caught up with Pico Lopes in advance of the big game to find out how preparations are going in the Blue Sharks camp 🦈

Catch Episode 5 now 👇#AFCON2023 l @picolopespic.twitter.com/okzoIgMEow

— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) February 2, 2024

“It helps you and gives you a lift as it is a long time away from home and you can think it is just ourselves but then you look at the bigger picture and eveyone is supporting us whether that is in Cape Verde, America or back home in Ireland. There is tonnes of support for us which is really nice.

“They put on a flight to come to the last game from Cape Verde to Ivory Coast. The fans were brilliant. They were there in the hotel before we left for the game. Throughout the game in the stadium, you could hear them and they were back in the hotel after.

"The videos from Cape Verde - and from all over the world - are of people celebrating. It has been really nice to see the lift that it gives to people qualifying for a quarter-final. 

“It is a great opportunity to reach Cape Verde's first ever semi-final at an AFCON. There is huge motivation there. We know what is at stake. If we win on Saturday that is a semi-final and that will be huge.”

Having overcome Mauritania 1-0 in the last 16, the Blue Sharks will now face a South African side who eliminated one of the tournament favourites Morocco in the last round.

The World Cup semi-finalists were dispatched 2-0 by the Bafana Bafana in their round of 16 tie – their third consecutive clean sheet in this AFCON.

Having been based in Abidjan for the whole tournament to date, Cape Verde have moved three hours north from the coast to Yamoussoukro – the Ivory Coast capital city – for Saturday evening’s quarter-final.

“It is going to be a difficult game. They are similar to Mauritania but maybe with a little bit more quality throughout their team. They can play a bit as they showed against Morocco especially in that final third of the pitch.

"There is a bit of freedom about them. Anyone that knocks Morocco out of a major tournament is a team to be feared.”

Penalties

Cape Verde’s clean sheet against Mauritania gave them the platform to score a late winning penalty – through Ryan Mendes – to avoid extra-time or penalties in the last round.

Hosts Ivory Coast won their last 16 tie on spot kicks while the DR Congo progressed to the quarter-final with their goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scoring the winning spot kick in their shootout.

How does Lopes reckon his goalkeeper Josimar Vozinha would get on with taking a penalty? “I'd back Vozinha all day. I'd back him to save a couple and to score if he needed to as well.

"We managed to take in some of the games over here - the Ivory Coast v Senegal game was brilliant because we are staying in Abidjan and the hotel staff were celebrating like mad after the goal went in. It was a great game to watch.

“I'm hoping that we don't have to endure extra-time or penalties. Hoping we can get the job done in the 90+ minutes. The lads have been practising (penalties) every day so we are well prepared for any scenario.”

The Irish Winners and Losers of the January Transfer Window https://t.co/lifLAjjkQypic.twitter.com/XaI6yklq0a

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