The dream of making their first-ever World Cup is very real for Cabo Verde. Coach Pedro Brito, known to many as ‘Bubista’, just announced his squad. He made some interesting choices for these two final, crucial qualifying games. The changes aim to secure an unprecedented spot in the 2026 World Cup.
This roster features a few changes, especially up front. Six players on this exciting list currently play their club football in Portugal. ‘Bubista’ has clearly focused on getting the right mix for these high-stakes matches.
Compared to the last call-up, there’s one swap in defense. Ianique Tavares from Torrense steps in, replacing David Moreira of Sporting. More significantly, ‘Bubista’ trimmed the attack. He picked six forwards this time, down from eight. Alessio da Cruz, who plays for Athletic MG in Brazil, and Jovane Cabral from Estrela da Amadora are out.
The Blue Sharks are in a fantastic spot. They sit atop Group D in the African qualifying zone, boasting 19 points. That puts them four points ahead of Cameroon, who are currently in second place. This strong lead gives them a real shot at history.
A win against Libya would seal the deal. It would guarantee a historic trip to the World Cup for Cabo Verde. Even a draw could be enough, but only if Cameroon doesn’t manage to beat Mauritania on the same day. Those matches are part of the second-to-last round of games in Group D. The tension will be high for both outcomes.
The path forward is clear. First, Cabo Verde travels to play Libya on Wednesday, October 8. Then, for the tenth and final matchday, they will host Eswatini on October 13. Eswatini currently sits at the very bottom of the group, which could be an advantage for the home side.
Here’s the full squad ‘Bubista’ is counting on:
- Goalkeepers: Bruno Varela (Al-Hazm, Saudi Arabia), Josimar Dias ‘Vozinha’ (Desportivo Chaves, Portugal), Márcio da Rosa (Montana, Bulgaria).
- Defenders: Edilson Borges (Al Bataeh, UAE), Ianique Tavares (Torrense, Portugal), Kelvin Pires (SJK, Finland), João Paulo Fernandes (FC Otelul, Romania), Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers, Ireland), Sidny Cabral (Estrela da Amadora, Portugal), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew, USA), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor, Turkey).
- Midfielders: Aílson Tavares (Beitar Jerusalem, Israel), Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets, Bulgaria), Jair Semedo (Farense, Portugal), Heriberto Tavares (Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Jamiro Monteiro (Zwolle, Netherlands), Laros Duarte (Puskás FC, Hungary), Kevin Pina (Krasnodar, Russia), Telmo Arcanjo (Vitória de Guimarães, Portugal).
- Forwards: Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia, Portugal), Garry Rodrigues (Limassol, Cyprus), Hélio Varela (Gent, Belgium), Nuno da Costa (Basaksehir, Turkey), Ryan Mendes (Kocaelispor, Turkey), Willy Semedo (Omonia, Cyprus).