Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Cape Verde and Senegal women’s football teams play this afternoon, at 5 pm, the final of the Union of West African Federations (UFOA) tournament, which takes place at the Marcelo Leitão stadium, on the island of Sal, since 20 January. The national team, which for the first time reaches the final of an international tournament, says it is prepared to face Senegal, “without fear” and with the same determination as in previous games.
The Senegalese coach considers that there is no favorite for this afternoon’s final game, but the Cape Verdean team is aware that they will face the title champion of the 2020 UFOA tournament after having won the final of the first edition of this competition held in March 2020 in Sierra Leone.
To reach today’s final, Cape Verde beat Gambia by 2-1 in the semi-final game in which the winning goal was scored near the end of regular time by midfielder Grampola (Maísa Cardoso) who was also elected the “Best Player” (MVP) of the match.
Final between the two best selections of the tournament
Analysts consider that, in today’s final, the two best teams in this edition of the UFOA tournament will be in terms of both the quality of the football played and the number of goals scored and conceded.
In the three games played, including the semi-final, the Cape Verdean team scored 12 goals and conceded just one. Also noteworthy is the fact that striker Vá (Ivânia Moreira) was the highlight of the tournament with seven goals, five of which in a single match, namely against Mauritania.
In turn, the Senegal team was, in the group stage, the one that scored the most goals (12), having conceded only one. In the semi-final, the “Leoas de Teranga”, the name by which the Senegalese team is also known, scored another four against Guinea-Bissau.
Before the final game, the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau teams are facing each other in dispute for third place in this UFOA tournament.
Cape Verde scored 12 goals and only conceded one
In the group stage Cape Verde was in first place in group A, with six points, as a result of the 4-0 and 6-0 victories against Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania, respectively.
In the three games played, including the semi-final, the Cape Verdean team scored 12 goals and conceded just one, with emphasis on the fact that their striker Vá (Ivânia Moreira), a player from the Seven Stars da Praia team, been the highlight of the tournament with seven goals, five of which were against Mauritania.
In the group stage of the UFOA tournament, Vá not only topped the list of the best scorers of the event, but was also elected the “Best Player” (MVP), both in the match against Guinea-Bissau and in the game against Mauritania.
Senegal: Cape Verde’s opponent in today’s final
Senegal is the current champion of the UFOA tournament in women’s football won in the final game of the first edition of this competition held in March 2020 in Sierra Leone. It should be recalled that in that 2020 edition, the Cape Verdean women’s national football team lost 2-0 to its counterpart in Senegal in a game that still counted for the second round of Group A in which the two teams were part.
To reach this Sunday’s final against Cape Verde, Senegal beat Guinea-Bissau 4-0 in the semi-final game played on Friday, 27th, at the Marcelo Leitão stadium, on the island of Sal.
In the group stage, the Senegalese team was first in group B with nine points, thanks to the victories achieved in their three games: 4-0 against Guinea-Conakry, 4-1 against Gambia and 4-0 against Sierra Leone. In those three group stage games, the Senegalese team was the one that scored the most goals (12), having conceded only one.
It should be recalled that the tournament of the Union of West African Federations (UFOA), which takes place from 20 to 29 January, on Sal Island, has the participation of Cape Verde, as host country, Gambia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea- Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone, which are already on the island of Sal. The Liberia and Mali teams canceled their participation.
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