Di World Cup don reach di round of 16, and one of di most interesting matchups na between Argentina and Cape Verde. Di match go happen for Miami on Friday, as di defending champions face di debutant from Africa.
Argentina don breeze through di group stage with three wins against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, scoring eight goals and conceding only one. Di main man for di team na Lionel Messi, wey don score six of those eight goals. Di 39-year-old legend dey show say age no be barrier, as he dey play some of di best football of his career.
On di other side, Cape Verde na di underdog. Dem qualify for di first time and dem face a tough task against di world champions. Di coach, Pedro Leitão Brito, wey dem call Bubista, say dem go try to show di world say small teams fit do big things. But di team get wahala off di field, as dia captain Ryan Mendes dey face a rape allegation for New Zealand. Di coach no talk about am for press conference, say dem only go answer questions about di match.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, wey go celebrate im 100th match in charge, don warn im players say dem no fit underrate Cape Verde. “Dem no dey here by chance. We must respect dem and we go do so,” he say.
Di atmosphere for Miami go be heavily in favor of Argentina, as Messi don make di city im home since he join Inter Miami for 2023. Di stadium go be full of Argentina fans, but Cape Verde go still try to cause upset.
For other matches, Colombia go face Ghana for Kansas City. Colombia don impress many people with dia performance for group stage, and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente don call dem one of di favorites. But Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo no gree, say dem still dey grow and dey no reach dia target yet.
Also, Egypt go play Australia for Dallas, but dem fit miss Mohamed Salah due to muscle injury. Di coach Hossam Hassan say dem no go risk am if he no dey 100% ready.
From Saturday, di World Cup go enter round of 16 proper, with Canada facing Morocco and Paraguay taking on France, wey get strong attack with Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise.
