Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the 6th round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will take place on Tuesday in Nouakchott, where Mauritania will face Cape Verde. Here's a betting suggestion focusing on the match outcome.
Match Preview
The Mauritania national team showed determination at the last Africa Cup of Nations, advancing to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams. However, their journey ended in the Round of 16 with a narrow loss to Cape Verde in a closely contested match. In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Mauritania has struggled, sitting at the bottom of Group B after four rounds.
In the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, their campaign started promisingly with a 1-0 home victory over Botswana, but three consecutive defeats followed. A recent away draw against Botswana failed to improve their standing, leaving them at the bottom of the group. Still, they retain a slim chance of catching Botswana under favorable conditions.
Cape Verde impressed at the last Africa Cup of Nations, collecting seven points in the group stage to advance confidently. They edged Mauritania in the Round of 16, showcasing disciplined play, but their journey ended in the quarterfinals after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to South Africa.
In the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Cape Verde's performance has been inconsistent. They opened with a heavy 0-3 defeat to Egypt, exposing defensive vulnerabilities, but rebounded with a 2-0 victory over Mauritania in the second round. However, two shocking losses to Botswana significantly dented their qualification hopes. Despite a spirited 1-1 draw against Egypt last week, Cape Verde will miss out on the upcoming tournament.
Probable Lineups
- Mauritania: Niasse; Fofana, Diav, Houebib, Koita; Keita, Abdoulaye, Si, Ngom, Mousin, Amar
- Cape Verde: B. Varela; Pina, Costa, Lopes; Monteiro, Duarte, Lenine; Mendes, Tavares, J. Varela
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Cape Verde has won the last two encounters against Mauritania.
- Only one of their last four matches saw over 2.5 goals.
- The "Both Teams to Score" bet has hit just once in their last four meetings.
Prediction
Cape Verde could complicate Botswana's chances, considering their previous defeats against them. Meanwhile, a Mauritania victory, combined with a Botswana loss to Egypt in a parallel match, would secure Mauritania the second spot. Our recommended bet is “Mauritania to win with a (0) handicap” at odds of 1.87.
