Bafana’s all-time top scorer wowed by Cape Verde’s brave display

Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy has heaped praise on Cape Verde, who are making their debut at the World Cup and won over the hearts of many by playing out to creditable draws against giants of world football.

Cape Verde played out to a credible goalless stalemate against 2010 World Cup champions Spain in their opening match of the tournament, before another 2-all draw against Uruguay.

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"I think this performance against Uruguay gets them a win against Saudi Arabia," said McCarthy on the BBC.

"I have a new lease of respect for them. They really came out to play. They were sensational. I thought they were brave.”

Cape Verde, who have a population of 500 000, are currently third in Group C and a win over Saudi Arabia in their final group stage game on Saturday could see them advance automatically into the next round.

McCarthy, who currently serves as national team coach of Kenya, feels that the Blue Sharks will get the job done.

"The only thing that is needed is working on their final-third entry, that composure, working on those decisions in the final moment of the game. I think they've won a lot of people's hearts after this performance.”

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One player from Cape Verde who has won over a lot of fans during the World Cup is goalkeeper Vozinha. The 40-year-old delivered a sterling performance against Spain, making a string of saves to deny the European champions victory.

In what has become one of the most talked-about human interest stories of the World Cup so far, Vozinha’s mother Ana Candida Evora missed the game against La Roja in person due to, among other things, the high costs of a visa for Cape Verde citizens to enter the USA.

The keeper’s performance prompted efforts to get her to North America, and she subsequently saw her son in action in person against Uruguay.