AFCON 2023: Where are Cape Verde ranked in the world?

Bafana Bafana will take on Cape Verde in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday, 3 February.

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Kick-off is scheduled for 22:00 (SA time).

The match will take place at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro.

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A look at the most recent FIFA world rankings – dated 21 December 2023 – shows that Cape Verde are ranked 14th in Africa and 73rd in the world.

For the record, South Africa are 12th on the African continent and 66th in the world.

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Below, 10 things you didn’t know about Bafana Bafana’s opponents.

1. Cape Verde, also known as Cabo Verde, is an archipelago and island country of West Africa in the Atlantic Ocean consisting of 10 volcanic islands

2. The Cape Verde islands were uninhabited until they were discovered by Portuguese navigators around 1456

3. The island’s land area is 4 033 square kilometres

4. It’s capital and largest city is Praia

5. The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese

6. Cape Verde was granted independence from Portugal on 5 July 1975

7. The population of Cape Verde as per the most recent census in 2021 was 561 901

8. The currency of Cape Verde is the Cape Verdean escudo

9. The current President is Jose Maria Neves and the Prime Minister is Ulisses Correia e Silva

10. Cape Verde are ranked 14th in Africa and 73rd in the world in the latest FIFA rankings (South Africa are 12th and 66th)

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