Cape Verde thrashed Tanzania 3-0 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification Group L match at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia on Friday.

The victory took the Blue Sharks to the top of the group standings, while the Taifa Stars remained fourth on the table.

The Blue Sharks were looking to return to winning ways having drawn 1-1 with Lesotho away in their previous Group L match last month.

While the Taifa Stars were also keen to bounce back after drawing 0-0 with Uganda away in their last Group L game.

The hosts took an early lead through Ricardo Gomes just 16 minutes into the game to make it 1-0 to Cape Verde.

The Serbia-based forward then grabbed his brace seven minutes before the half-hour mark with the Taifa Stars defence exposed.

Gomes beat Tanzania goalkeeper Aishi Manula with a good finish to make it 2-0 to Cape Verde.

The score was 2-0 to Cape Verde during the half-time following a lively first-half.

The visitors’ attack was led by lethal forward Mbwana Samatta, who is on the books of Belgian Pro League side KRC Genk.

However, the Blue Sharks continued their dominance after the restart and they managed to score again with five minutes left on the clock.

Stopira was the man, who sealed Cape Verde’s 3-0 victory over Tanzania when he netted in the closing stages of the game.

Cape Verde (2) 3 (Gomes 16′, 23′, Stopira 85′)
Tanzania (0) 0

Cape Verde XI: Thierry Graça, Stopira, Jeffrey Fortes, Gêgê, Tiago Almeida, Ponck, Babanco, Garry Rodrigues, Héldon, Ricardo Gomes, Djaniny.
Tanzania XI: Aishi Manula, Michael, Banda, Morris, Mwantika, Kessy, Mao, Yahya, Samatta, Ulimwengu, Msuva.