Veteran defender Stopira is chasing a personal dream of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament Cape Verde qualified for in a historic first for the small island nation.
The 38-year-old helped seal the Blue Sharks’ unprecedented spot in the global football showcase, calling it the “biggest dream of his career.”
Stopira stated that Cape Verde, which is celebrating 50 years of independence, is “a small country with a giant heart.” He emphasized that the qualification is “the realization of a dream for our nation.”
He will be 38 when the tournament kicks off across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Despite his age, he intends to be present on the field.
“I will never give that up,” he told Lusa news agency. “It was my dream, and now that I’ve realized it, of course I want to be present, and I will work for it.”
Cape Verde secured its qualification recently by defeating Eswatini 3-0 in the capital city of Praia. They topped Group D of African qualification with 23 points, four clear of Cameroon.
Stopira scored the third goal in injury time during that decisive match. He described it as his “most beautiful goal” due to the overwhelming emotion.
The defender had previously made a comeback to the national team after retiring a year earlier. He returned to help address a series of defensive injuries within the squad.
He boasts over 60 international appearances and previously played in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2015, 2021, and 2023.
Stopira vividly recalled the post-match celebrations, reuniting with childhood friends and his community. He described it as an immense feeling of pride.
He hopes the World Cup qualification will “open many doors” for the country, not just in sports but also in social development, tourism, and geopolitics. He wants Cape Verde “to be seen in another way.”
While specific World Cup objectives are yet to be discussed, Stopira affirmed that the team is “aware that we will play with the best.” He added they will “try to do everything to honor our country and our people.”
Currently, Stopira captains Torreense in Portugal’s second-tier league.
He aims to perform well “game by game” for his club. The second-tier league is very competitive, but he wants Torreense to be “in the front carriage.”