Cape Verde vs South Africa - LIVE!

South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved four penalties in a dramatic penalty shootout against the Cape Verde, to carry his country into the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw in their quarter-final on Saturday.

Mothobi Mvala scored the decisive kick to make it 2-1 on penalties and win South Africa a semi-final place for the first time since 2000, as they kept their hopes of winning a trophy they last lifted in 1996 alive. Bafana Bafana now take on Nigeria in Bouake in their semi-final on Wednesday, with hosts Ivory Coast facing DR Congo in the other last-four clash.

It was a game full of missed opportunities but Cape Verde, who have a population of 600,000 but draw most of their players from a large diaspora in Europe, had most of the chances and were only denied a last-four place by the heroics of Williams, who produced a stunning save to take the match to extra-time and then stepped up further in the shootout.

Cape Verde vs South Africa latest news

• South Africa win dramatic penalty shootout

• FT: Williams save sends it to extra time

• HT: Goalless after tense opening 45 minutes

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00:28 , Matt Verri

South Africa booked their place in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Cape Verde.

After 120 minutes of goalless action, it went to the spot, and it was Bafana Bafana who held their nerve, as Ronwen Williams produced four sensational saves to inspire his side to a 2-1 shootout victory, setting up an AFCON last-four clash with Nigeria.

Click here for our full report!

Start the party!

23:47 , Matt Verri

Going to be a lot of celebrations in South Africa tonight, you can be sure of that...

And then there were four...

23:12 , Matt Verri

It really is all to play for now!

Williams leading the way

23:06 , Matt Verri

No goalkeeper had made a save in a penalty shootout during this tournament until tonight.

Fair to say Ronwen Williams put a halt to that. Five penalties faced, four saved.

South Africa guaranteed two more matches now. They will at least play in the third-place play-off, but Bafana Bafana will be eyeing much more than that.

Save the date!

23:00 , Matt Verri

South Africa fans - the fun continues.

Next up it is a semi-final clash against Nigeria. A HUGE match.

That takes place on Wednesday February 7, with kick-off at 5pm GMT. We will of course have full coverage of that game.

Williams the hero

22:56 , Matt Verri

Williams' save sent the match to extra-time, tipping the ball onto the woodwork deep into stoppage-time.

And he then stepped up again in the shootout. Cape Verde went first in the shootout, Bebe's effort was saved and that set the tone.

Bafana Bafana march on!

22:55 , Matt Verri

Incredible.

Williams saved four of the penalties he faced in the shootout, sensational performance.

South Africa are through. They will face Nigeria in the semi-finals.

South Africa win the shootout!

22:53 , Matt Verri

All the pressure on Andrade. MUST score.

CAN'T SCORE!

Williams makes it four saves and South Africa are through to the semi-finals!

GOAL! Cape Verde 1-2 South Africa

22:52 , Matt Verri

HUGE!

Mvala makes no mistake. Cape Verde must score, or they are out.

GOAL! Cape Verde 1-1 South Africa

22:50 , Matt Verri

Teixeira gets Cape Verde on the board!

Still advantage South Africa though...

MISS! Cape Verde 0-1 South Africa

22:49 , Matt Verri

Modiba.... SAVED!

South Africa cannot put this shootout to bed. Cape Verde are alive.

MISS! Cape Verde 0-1 South Africa

22:48 , Matt Verri

WHAT IS GOING ON?!

Duarte next up for Cape Verde and it's saved by Williams! He's saved all three.

MISS! Cape Verde 0-1 South Africa

22:47 , Matt Verri

Can Lepasa give South Africa complete control?

NO! OVER THE BAR!

MISS! Cape Verde 0-1 South Africa

22:46 , Matt Verri

Semedo... SAVED!

Same side as Bebe, same outcome!

GOAL! Cape Verde 0-1 South Africa

22:45 , Matt Verri

It's Mokoena for South Africa.

And he converts - advantage Bafana Bafana!

MISS! Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:44 , Matt Verri

Bebe first up... CAN'T SCORE!

Williams with a huge save.

22:43 , Matt Verri

Williams getting a few high-fives from his team-mates as he prepares himself.

Both goalkeepers meet in the middle, they are now the two captains.

South Africa win the toss for choosing what end the shootout is at. And it looks like Cape Verde have opted to go first.

22:41 , Matt Verri

Both sides in a huddle, final decisions being made over the penalty takers.

"This is ours" is the message from the South African group. We shall see.

FT: Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:39 , Matt Verri

I've run out of things to say about Bebe. His latest shot from 35 yards out is awful. Again. His team-mates getting a bit fed up of that trick, to put it mildly.

And that's the full-time whistle.

We are going to a penalty shootout!

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:37 , Matt Verri

120 mins: One minute added on.

Has to be now for either side, otherwise it's penalties!

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:36 , Matt Verri

119 mins: Space opens up for Cape Verde, Bebe driving forward.

He has players either side making a run in behind, takes too long to make the pass though and it's intercepted.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:34 , Matt Verri

117 mins: Space opens up for Mokoena, gets the shot away from distance. Straight at the goalkeeper.

There are some very, very nervous faces on the benches and in the stands.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:34 , Matt Verri

116 mins: Mayambela lurking in the box, ball won't drop for him though.

All of a sudden it's South Africa pushing for a late winner. Bebe tries to change that, with his trademark shot from a couple of miles out. Shanks it.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:31 , Matt Verri

114 mins: Play goes on, South Africa with ten men. And they win a corner.

They do now make that change, Mashego is on for Bafana Bafana.

Corner is a decent one, header loops straight up though and Vozinha can claim.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:30 , Matt Verri

113 mins: Trouble for Maseko.

He charges after a ball in behind, pulls up immediately holding his hamstring.

That looks like it could be the end of his night.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:29 , Matt Verri

111 mins: Semedo looks to break away down the right, Modiba swiftly out to slide in though and halt his progress.

It is Cape Verde who look to have a bit more energy at the moment.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:27 , Matt Verri

109 mins: Benchimol has gone down holding his face.

Looked to make yet another run in behind, he clearly thinks he was blocked off.

He's moaning and pointing his finger while lying on the ground. I think he's fine.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:25 , Matt Verri

108 mins: Cape Verde win a corner, first real attack of the half.

Aimed towards Bebe at the back post, cut out before it can reach him though.

Back underway!

22:22 , Matt Verri

Right then. Up and running in extra-time.

Time to find out if another 15 minutes is enough to find a winner.

HT in ET: Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:19 , Matt Verri

Bebe with the volley from 25 yards out, can't hit the target. There is literally nowhere he won't shoot from.

That's half time, just 15 minutes left to find a winner. Otherwise it's penalties.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:18 , Matt Verri

105 mins: To the back post, Sithole can't get there at the back post.

Nodded back into the box, Mvala offside as he tries to flick it on.

One minute added on.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:16 , Matt Verri

103 mins: Mobbie replaces Mudau.

South Africa with a free-kick out wide, Cape Verde can only turn it behind for a corner.

Bafana Bafana keep the pressure on.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:12 , Matt Verri

99 mins: A carbon copy - he can't help but smile!

Benchimol is getting in behind this South African defence, again he's picked out. Once more though, he goes for the far corner and can't hit the target.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:09 , Matt Verri

96 mins: It's not happening for Benchimol.

Great run, gets in down the side of the South Africa defence. Drags the shot wide though, had to do better there.

It's been a very cagey match, but things have completely opened up now.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:08 , Matt Verri

95 mins: Best of luck guessing what happens next in this match! Both sides have been unable to take really big opportunities.

Cape Verde try to switch it out wide to Bebe, who gives up on that one very early.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

22:05 , Matt Verri

92 mins: Vozinha with two HUGE saves!

South Africa should be in front. Mayambela with a massive chance, six yards out and his shot is smothered.

Makgopa then with a header at the back post, somehow tipped over the bar!

Back underway!

22:03 , Matt Verri

We're up and running in extra-time!

What a moment!

21:59 , Matt Verri

That looked to be it for Cape Verde, their chance to win it.

Instead they are going to extra time for the first time, after a sensational save from Williams.

FT: Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:57 , Matt Verri

We're going to extra-time!

90 minutes isn't enough to split these two teams, we'll have another 30. If that doesn't do it, it will be penalties.

Settle in.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:56 , Matt Verri

90+5 mins: Williams celebrated that save like a goal. Quite right, too. He's kept South Africa in it.

Benchimol has been walking around with his face in his hands for the last two minutes.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:55 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: STUNNING SAVE!

WOW. Benchimol is clean through for Cape Verde, looks certain to score but Williams somehow tips it onto the bar!

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:53 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Four minutes added on!

Goal now would win it...

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:51 , Matt Verri

89 mins: Now then. South Africa's turn to win a free-kick in a great position, Maseko with the quick footwork.

Is this the moment?

Mokoena to whip it into the box. Five players to aim at.

Goes to the near post, Zwane can't flick it on and Cape Verde clear.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:49 , Matt Verri

87 mins: Brilliant from Semedo, nutmegs Modiba and draws the foul. By the byline on the right, just outside the area. I won't make any more predictions about Bebe's ability to shoot...

Benchimol meanwhile is on for Jovane.

Free-kick to the back post, well worked. Dinked back in, Semedo heads over from six-yards out. Real chance.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:48 , Matt Verri

85 mins: Mayambela on for South Africa, replacing Tau.

Cape Verde whip the ball in from out on the right, good header from Mvala to clear.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:46 , Matt Verri

83 mins: Scrappy spell, flurry of throw-ins with neither side really going anywhere.

It's feeling increasingly tense. Both sides know a goal know would probably decide it. Doesn't feel like either want to take any risks, with extra-time looming.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:43 , Matt Verri

80 mins: Cape Verde win a soft free-kick, Sithole unfortunate to be penalised there.

Bebe, of course, to take. Even he can't shoot from here though.

I take that back. He apparently can shoot from there, near enough 40 yards out and not far off the touchline. Wide.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:40 , Matt Verri

77 mins: Here we go then. We have 13 minutes plus stoppage-time to go. As it stands, 30 minutes beyond that too.

Bebe breaks away down the left, slides a ball into the box. Cut back to Santos, shot is blocked! South Africa hanging on all of a sudden.

Jovane then turns brilliantly on the edge of the area, fires just over the bar.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:37 , Matt Verri

75 mins: Cooling break called.

Still we wait for the first goal of the night. Neither side particularly on top, it's still there to be won.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:34 , Matt Verri

72 mins: Here is Bebe. He's got 20 minutes to make the difference, and potentially extra-time beyond that.

Bebe on for Rodrigues, who was probably Cape Verde's most dangerous player. Strange decision.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:33 , Matt Verri

71 mins: Another Cape Verde corner, falls for Rodrigues and his shot is deflected wide. Judging by his reaction, he thought that was going in.

Second corner is cleared, South Africa look to break but that is swiftly halted by a foul from Andrade.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:31 , Matt Verri

69 mins: Modiba hammers an effort at goal from distance, blocked.

Very nearly falls for Zwane on the edge of the box, but he can't take it in his stride and Cape Verde clear.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:29 , Matt Verri

67 mins: Mendes looks less than impressed on the touchline, after being brought off.

Making his opinion on that decision very clear. Still no sign of Bebe for Cape Verde.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:27 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Andrade and Semedo are on for Cape Verde. Mendes, the captain, and Pina make way.

This has the feel of a match that will be settled by one goal. Will we get it in normal time?

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:25 , Matt Verri

62 mins: Modiba does well to halt Mendes' run, pokes the ball away for a corner.

Deep to the back post, clash of heads between Pina and Kekana. Both will need some treatment.

South Africa make a change, meanwhile. Maseko on for Morena.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:22 , Matt Verri

60 mins: It's becoming end-to-end!

Tau plays the ball across the face of goal, Makgopa is waiting for a tap-in but Vozinha comes off his line to gather. Crucial interception.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:22 , Matt Verri

59 mins: Rodrigues seeing more and more of the ball for Cape Verde. Not good news for Bafana Bafana.

Fernandes meanwhile tries his luck from miles out yet again. And yet again, it's not very good.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:18 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Biggest chance of the match!

Rodrigues makes a great run in behind for Cape Verde, gets the pass this time.

Just the goalkeeper to beat, it's a tame effort in the end. Straight at Williams.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:16 , Matt Verri

54 mins: Makgopa in space on the right hand side of the box, fires an effort at goal from a tight angle. Straight at Vozinha.

After a slow start to the half, South Africa are on top.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:13 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Madau almost in at the other end, but Pina gets back well to poke the ball behind for a corner.

It's swung in right on top of Vozinha, he flaps at it a bit but gets the decision. Mokoena went up with him, a bit too keen.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:11 , Matt Verri

49 mins: Nearly!

Rodrigues completely free in the middle for Cape Verde, ball curled in towards him but Williams reads it well and charges off his line to claim.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

21:09 , Matt Verri

47 mins: Cape Verde straight on the attack, winning a corner in the opening minute of the half.

It's headed out to Fernandes, who backs himself with a volley from 25 yards out. Drags it well wide.

Back underway!

21:07 , Matt Verri

Second-half is up and running!

First-half stats

20:59 , Matt Verri

Cape Verde with more possession, 58% of the ball, but no shots on target to show for it.

South Africa have had six shots as well, one of those on target.

As we expected, they are two very evenly-matched sides!

Elsewhere at AFCON...

20:55 , Matt Verri

No goals in this match so far, but there was plenty of drama in the other quarter-final today,

Hosts Ivory Coast left it very, very late to book their place in the semi-finals!

HT: Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:52 , Matt Verri

Just a warning for both players, and that's half-time.

Goalless 45 minutes, neither side has come particularly close to opening the scoring either.

Has the feeling of a match that could go all the way.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:51 , Matt Verri

45+5 mins: It was Santos who went down... and has stayed down.

Holding his ribs as he gets up, maybe just about winded. We'll give him the benefit of the doubt, rather than suggesting he's making the most of things...

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:50 , Matt Verri

45+3 mins: It's all kicked off just before half-time, Cape Verde players furious about something.

Tau had his run blocked, responded with a shove. Not sure there's too much in that.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:47 , Matt Verri

45 mins: Three minutes added on.

South Africa come forward down the right, ball falls for Mudau but he sends the shot a long way over the bar.

Got stuck under his feet, right-back didn't look convincing there.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:44 , Matt Verri

43 mins: It was Modiba with that block for South Africa. May well have saved a goal.

Here come Bafana Bafana at the other end, Fernandes with a couple of good interceptions to stop crosses into the box.

Match is starting to open up again.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:42 , Matt Verri

41 mins: Huge block!

Rodrigues away down the left, cuts it back to Mendes. He's free on the penalty spot, takes a couple more touches onto his right foot and the South African bodies come flying in to block.

Superb defending.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:40 , Matt Verri

39 mins: Bafana Bafana are being pushed back. Rodrigues the latest to try his luck from distance, blocked.

Cape Verde straight back on the attack though, they've been deep in South African territory for about five minutes.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:38 , Matt Verri

37 mins: Chaos in the South African box.

Mendes fires a ball in from the right, cleared out to the edge of the box where Santos' volley is going to flash wide, until it hits Kekana who is lying down on the byline!

Bounces back up dangerously in the six-yard box, South Africa just about clear it away.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:35 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Right, here we go again. South Africa need to switch on immediately and defend this corner.

Referee having a word before it's taken, a lot of players getting very close to each other in the middle. Bit of pushing and shoving.

After all that, it's swung into the near post and smashed away.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:33 , Matt Verri

31 mins: Ball nodded behind for a Cape Verde corner.

Before we get to that though, time for the first cooling break of the night.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:30 , Matt Verri

29 mins: Real chance here. Mendes slides in, Mokoena flicks the ball past him and that's a free-kick just outside the area. Yellow card for the Cape Verde captain too.

Mokoena standing over it. Big build-up, taken about a minute to get this wall ready.

And.... he blasts it straight into the wall. Follow-up effort miles over the bar.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:27 , Matt Verri

26 mins: Long spell of possession for South Africa, they look the more comfortable of the two teams on the ball.

Just need to find that final pass, haven't yet been able to create a huge amount in the way of clear-cut chances.

Nor have Cape Verde, though.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:24 , Matt Verri

23 mins: Good work from Tau, turns out of trouble and then wins a free-kick as Mendes clips his heels.

Up come the centre-backs, Tau swings it in himself and Costa is there to head it away.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:21 , Matt Verri

20 mins: Cape Verde win a free-kick out wide, whipped into the middle and South Africa deal with it well to clear the danger.

Monteiro launches it back in from deep, straight out for a goal-kick. Not his best.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:18 , Matt Verri

17 mins: Space opens up for Cape Verde, Pina tries his luck from 20 yards out but he drags the effort wide.

Both sides have looked pretty confident in the first 17 minutes or so of this match.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:15 , Matt Verri

14 mins: It's all South Africa.

They win the ball back high up the pitch, ball slid through to Zwane.

Into the box, can't get the ball out of his feet though and he scuffs a right-footed shot wide. Decent chance that.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:13 , Matt Verri

12 mins: Bafana Bafana growing into this match, seeing much more of the ball now.

Morena puts a dangerous ball into the middle, three white shirts up in attack but it deflect away in between them all.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:11 , Matt Verri

10 mins: Makgopa holds the ball up for South Africa, they are able to get bodies forward for the first time.

Mokoena hammers an effort at goal from distance, comfortable enough save for the goalkeeper.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:07 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Rodrigues with sharp work out on the left, wins a corner for Cape Verde.

Swung to the back post, Pina is unmarked but he can't direct the header on target. Should have done much more with that.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:06 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Mendes in behind for Cape Verde, smashes the ball across the face of goal. Too much on it though, out for a goal-kick.

Came after Modiba got a good foot in for South Africa, who are having to defend well in the opening minutes.

Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa

20:03 , Matt Verri

2 mins: It's Cape Verde dominating possession early on, South Africa happy to sit back in their shape and let them have the ball.

From what we've seen from these two teams in the tournament so far, this could be a very tight encounter.

KICK-OFF!

20:01 , Matt Verri

We're underway!

19:58 , Matt Verri

Not a huge amount of fans inside the stadium - most of the country obviously tuned in for the earlier Ivory Coast match.

Anthems done - time to get up and running!

Here we go!

19:53 , Matt Verri

Players are out onto the pitch, Cape Verde vs South Africa just a few minutes away.

We have three of the four teams confirmed for the AFCON semi-finals. Time to find out who is going to fill that final spot!

More AFCON chaos...

19:48 , Matt Verri

Ivory Coast are through to the semi-finals!

They were reduced to ten men in the first-half, struck in stoppage-time to force an extra 30 minutes... and then scored a winner just seconds before the end of extra time.

Incredible. The hosts will face DR Congo in the last-four.

Not long now!

19:40 , Matt Verri

Kick-off just 20 minutes away now!

Warm-ups are up and running, teams going through their final preparations.

It's going to be an historic night for one of these sides...

World Cup qualifying underway

19:33 , Matt Verri

Speaking of qualifying for the World Cup, the race to qualify for the 2026 tournament is up and running.

South Africa sit second in Group C, after beating Benin but then losing to Rwanda.

Cape Verde second in their group too, behind Cameroon. A draw with Angola and a win over Eswatini to begin their qualification campaign.

Advantage Cape Verde?

19:26 , Matt Verri

These two teams last met in qualification for the 2018 World Cup, when Cape Verde won 2-1 in both matches.

That was more than six years ago now though - not sure that will be featuring too heavily in either team talk!

Cape Verde have arrived!

19:16 , Matt Verri

A lot less dancing than we saw from the South Africans, but the Cape Verde squad have made their way into their dressing room.

Kick-off coming up in just under 45 minutes now.

Bafana Bafana look to turn back clock

19:09 , Matt Verri

South Africa won AFCON in 1996, finished as runners-up two years later and then came third in 2000.

There hasn't been much of that consistency since.

Bafana Bafana have been knocked out in the group stage four times, failed to qualify on four occasions, and have suffered three quarter-finals defeat.

It's now 24 years since they last reached the semi-finals.

Cape Verde team news

19:04 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Vozinha; Moreira, Costa, Lopes, Paulo; Pina, Rocha Santos, Monteiro; Rodrigues, Cabral, Mendes

Subs: Tavares, Borges, Andrade, Tavares, Fernandes, Duarte, Duarte, Santos, Afonso, Silva, Bebe, Silva

South Africa team news

18:58 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Sithole, Morena, Zwane, Tau, Makgopa

Subs: Mobbie, Mashego, Xulu, Appollis, Adams, Maseko, Monare, Mothwa, Lepasa, Sibisi, Mayambela, Goss

Late drama

18:54 , Matt Verri

Simon Adingra has just scored for Ivory Coast in the 90th minute, to level up their quarter-final with Mali.

Reminder that the hosts have played the entirety of the second-half with ten men.

Follow that match live here!

In the building!

18:45 , Matt Verri

The South African squad have arrived at the stadium - fair to say there's no sign of any nerves!

Cape Verde looking to make history

18:36 , Matt Verri

This is just the second time that Cape Verde have made it through to the AFCON quarter-finals.

The first came in 2013, when they were beaten 2-0 by Ghana. They now get another chance to make the semi-finals for the first time ever.

South Africa also reached the last-eight in 2013, falling to defeat on penalties against Mali.

Click here to read the full blog on The Evening Standard's website