Afcon 2021: Ethiopia 0-1 Cape Verde
- Published
Julio Tavares was part of the Cape Verde squad which reached the Nations Cup quarter-finals in 2013
A Julio Tavares header in first-half stoppage time was enough to give Covid-hit Cape Verde victory over 10-man Ethiopia in their Group A clash at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Coach Bubista and nine players were absent, with the Blue Sharks only able to name six substitutes.
The east Africans had Yared Bayeh sent off for bringing down Tavares just outside the box in the eighth minute.
And the striker netted the only goal from close range.
Initially shown yellow by Angolan referee Helder Martins de Carvalho, centre-back Bayeh had his card upgraded to red after a lengthy VAR check.
Substitute Mignot Debebe almost scored a freak own goal, but his miscued clearance was clawed away by Ethiopia keeper Teklemariam Shanko on the line, and Shanko then saved well from midfielder Dylan Tavares.
The islanders hit the front when a deep cross from the left flank was volleyed back across goal by the ever-bright Garry Rodrigues and Tavares was on hand to convert from close range.
Ethiopia made little impact going forward in front of a sparse crowd in the Olembe Stadium, with the majority having departed after Cameroon's earlier victory.