Cape Verde national football team

The Cape Verde national football team (Portuguese: seleção nacional de futebol de Cabo Verde), recognised as Cabo Verde (Kabuverdianu: Kabu Verdi) by FIFA, represents Cape Verde in men's international football, and is controlled by the Cape Verdean Football Federation. Nicknamed Blue Sharks (Tubarões Azuis in Portuguese), the national team played its first match on 19 April 1978 against Guinea, a match they lost 0–1. Following the federation's affiliation with the Confederation of African Football and FIFA in 1982, the national team entered Africa Cup of Nations qualification for the first time in 1992 and made its first FIFA World Cup qualification appearance in 2003. Cape Verde plays the majority of its home matches at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde. They qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in (/wiki/2013AfricaCupofNations). Since then, they also appeared in the (/wiki/2015AfricaCupofNations), (/wiki/2021AfricaCupofNations) and (/wiki/2023AfricaCupofNations) tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals in 2013 and 2023.

Source: Wikipedia

Article

Cape Verde national football team

Cape Verde qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in (/wiki/2026FIFAWorldCup), becoming the smallest country by land area and the second least populated (after Iceland) to qualify for the World Cup, with a land area of 4,033 square kilometres (1,557 sq mi) and a population of just under 525,000, until Curaçao broke both records just five weeks later by qualifying for the same tournament. In the group stage, they finished second with three draws: 0–0 against the reigning European champions Spain, 2–2 with Uruguay, and 0–0 with Saudi Arabia. Cape Verde qualified for the knockout rounds and were eliminated in a 3–2 loss to defending champions Argentina after extra time.

History

Early History

Cape Verde became independent from Portugal in 1975. The national team's first international was a 1–0 defeat to Guinea on 29 May 1978, in a tournament in Guinea-Bissau. The Cape Verdean Football Federation was formed in 1982, and joined FIFA in 1986.

On 2 November 2002, Cape Verde faced a non-African team for the first time, in a scoreless friendly against Luxembourg.

Cape Verdeans abroad, who are more numerous than the population of the islands themselves, are a major source of players for the national team. Most of Cape Verde's current international footballers play outside Cape Verde (mainly in Europe, but also in Asia), and some were born outside the islands.

On 4 September 2009, Cape Verde faced Malta in a friendly, resulting in a 2–0 victory.

2010s

On 24 May 2010, Cape Verde played out a 0–0 draw in a friendly match against a full-strength Portugal. At the time, Portugal was third in the FIFA rankings and Cape Verde were 117th. Their first World Cup qualifying campaign was for the (/wiki/2002FIFAWorldCupqualification) tournament, in which Cape Verde was eliminated in the first round after one draw and a defeat against Algeria. In the qualification campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Cape Verde advanced to the final round after their first victory in a World Cup qualifier, beating Swaziland. In the final round, the team made an impression with its first-ever away victory against Burkina Faso, but finished fifth in its group and failed to qualify for either tournament.

Then coach João de Deus from Portugal brought in several new players from European leagues for the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers. Cape Verde finished second in its group in the second round, ahead of Tanzania and Mauritius, but behind Cameroon, and did not advance to the third round. Then, Cape Verde made their AFCON debut in (/wiki/2013AfricaCupofNations), after stunning Cameroon 3–2 on aggregate, following a 2–1 defeat at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, having won the home leg 2–0 in Praia.

Cape Verde were drawn into Group A of the finals, alongside Angola, Morocco and the host nation South Africa; they played the opening match of the tournament at Soccer City in Johannesburg, Gauteng, against the hosts on 19 January 2013. Pulled from the fourth pot during the group stage drawing of the tournament, Cape Verde actually had the highest FIFA ranking of any team in their group at the time of the drawing, ranking at 51st overall, followed by Morocco (71st), South Africa (72nd) and Angola (83rd).

Cape Verde drew with South Africa 0–0 in the tournament's first match, before drawing with Morocco 1–1. Platini scored Cape Verde's first ever goal at the AFCON, before they won their first ever AFCON match against Angola, 2–1 (despite an early own goal by captain Nando Maria Neves), reaching the quarter-finals.

On 2 February 2013, Cape Verde faced Ghana in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, registering 16 shots on Ghana's goal to their eight, with seven shots on target to their two. Ghana eventually knocked Cape Verde out.

On 15 October 2014, Cape Verde became the first of two nations to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Algeria, joining the host nation Equatorial Guinea after defeating Mozambique 1–0 at home. The team, under newly appointed manager Rui Águas, picked up where Lúcio Antunes left off and managed to finish in the top two of the group stage with two matches remaining to play in the qualification process, having been drawn in a group together with Mozambique, Niger and Zambia. On 15 November 2014, Cape Verde secured first place in their group, finishing as Group F winners by defeating Niger 3–1 at home, with one match remaining to play for qualification.

Cape Verde were drawn into Group B of the final tournament, together with Zambia, Tunisia and DR Congo. On 18 January 2015 they played their first match against Tunisia at the Estadio de Ebibeyin. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with Héldon leveling the score off a penalty kick in the 78th minute. Cape Verde then drew 0–0 against DR Congo four days later, with their group stage placement depending on the final match results of both teams. Facing off against Zambia on 26 January, the match ended in 0–0 draw, leaving both Cape Verde and Zambia eliminated from the Cup. Contested during a tropical storm, with 26 mm (1.0 in) of rainfall, Cape Verde exited the tournament tied with DR Congo for points and undefeated, finishing behind them on goal difference.

On 31 March 2015, Cape Verde won 2–0 against Portugal at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota in Estoril.

2020s: Rapid rise and World Cup qualification

Cape Verde qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and were drawn into Group B. They defeated Ghana 2–1 in the first group stage match when Garry Rodrigues scored a late match-winning goal in the second minute of stoppage time. In their second match, Cape Verde defeated Mozambique 3-0. This result, along with others in the group, meant that Cape Verde entered the final group match already having secured passage to the knockout stage as the winners of Group B. In the last group stage match, Cape Verde faced Egypt. After the Egypt had scored a go-ahead stoppage time goal, Bryan Teixeira equalised deep into stoppage time to secure a 2–2 draw. In the Round of 16, Cape Verde faced Mauritania, and captain Ryan Mendes scored a crucial penalty late in the second half to send them to the quarter-finals, where Cape Verde faced South Africa. The match ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes, thus sending it to penalties. Cape Verde were knocked out of the tournament after failing to convert four of their five penalty kicks, losing the shootout 1–2.

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><th> Cape Verde</th><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>3</td><td>+4</td><td>7</td><td rowspan="2">Advance to knockout stage</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><th> Egypt</th><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><th> Ghana</th><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>−1</td><td>2</td><td rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><th> Mozambique</th><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>−3</td><td>2</td></tr></tbody></table>

2026 FIFA World Cup

2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 match on 21 June, showing Cape Verde players in red jerseys competing against Uruguay in light blue in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States.

Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after winning its qualifying group in October 2025. In its opening game, the team held future World Cup champion Spain to a goalless draw, exceeding expectations and earning Cape Verde its first ever point. As Spain was ranked significantly higher than Cape Verde, the draw brought attention to all of the team's players, with the team's goalkeeper, Vozinha, gaining almost 30 million followers on social media platform Instagram. In its second match, the team tied Uruguay 2–2, scoring its first World Cup goals, and once again, exceeding expectations. With a third (0–0) draw against Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde finished undefeated and as runners-up in its group.

Cape Verde faced the defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32, holding them to a 1–1 score after the regulatory 90-minute period before going on to lose 3–2 in extra time. The team's performance at the World Cup almost instantly became highly regarded as one of the biggest underdog stories in World Cup history, and the match with Argentina as one of the greatest individual World Cup games of all time. Vozinha was voted into the Dream XI all-star team, while Sidny Lopes Cabral's equalizing goal against Argentina was named the Goal of the Tournament.

Kit history

Kit manufacturer

<table><thead><tr><th>Kit providers</th><th>Period</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Adidas</td><td>1978–1992</td></tr><tr><td>Duarig</td><td>1992–1993</td></tr><tr><td>Saillev</td><td>1994–2001</td></tr><tr><td>Tepa</td><td>2002–2007</td></tr><tr><td>Erreà</td><td>2008–2009</td></tr><tr><td>KS Sport</td><td>2010–2011</td></tr><tr><td>Adidas</td><td>2012</td></tr><tr><td>Tepa</td><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td>Hummel</td><td>2014–2015</td></tr><tr><td>Lacatoni</td><td>2016–2017</td></tr><tr><td>Adidas</td><td>2018–2021</td></tr><tr><td>Tempo Sport</td><td>2022–2026</td></tr><tr><td>Capelli Sport</td><td>2026–present</td></tr></tbody></table>

Stadiums

Cape Verde national football team

The national team played at Estádio da Várzea in Praia, on Santiago Island. The stadium reopened in 2006 and has a capacity of 8,000.

Currently, the team plays the majority of its home matches at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde. The Tubarões Azuis matches have also been held at the 5,000-seat Adérito Sena Municipal Stadium in Mindelo.

Results and fixtures

Cape Verde national football team

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Players

Current squad

The following 26 players were called up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and for the pre-tournament friendly matches against Serbia on 31 May and Bermuda on 6 June 2026. Caps and goals correct as of 3 July 2026, after the match against Argentina.

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Player</th><th>Date of birth (age)</th><th>Caps</th><th>Goals</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>GK</td><th>Vozinha (vice-captain)</th><td>3 June 1986</td><td>94</td><td>0</td><td>Colo-Colo</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>GK</td><th>Márcio Rosa</th><td>23 February 1997</td><td>11</td><td>0</td><td>Montana</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>GK</td><th>CJ dos Santos</th><td>24 August 2000</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>San Diego</td></tr><tr><td colspan="7"></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>DF</td><th>Stopira</th><td>20 May 1988</td><td>61</td><td>4</td><td>Torreense</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>DF</td><th>Diney Borges</th><td>17 January 1995</td><td>36</td><td>2</td><td>Sharjah</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>DF</td><th>Pico Lopes</th><td>17 June 1992</td><td>49</td><td>0</td><td>Shamrock Rovers</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>DF</td><th>Logan Costa</th><td>1 April 2001</td><td>28</td><td>0</td><td>Villarreal</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>DF</td><th>Sidny Lopes Cabral</th><td>18 September 2003</td><td>14</td><td>4</td><td>Trabzonspor</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>DF</td><th>Steven Moreira</th><td>13 August 1994</td><td>24</td><td>0</td><td>Columbus Crew</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>DF</td><th>Wagner Pina</th><td>3 November 2002</td><td>15</td><td>0</td><td>Trabzonspor</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>DF</td><th>Kelvin Pires</th><td>5 June 2000</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>SJK</td></tr><tr><td colspan="7"></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>MF</td><th>Kevin Pina</th><td>27 January 1997</td><td>35</td><td>4</td><td>Krasnodar</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>MF</td><th>Jovane Cabral</th><td>14 June 1998</td><td>31</td><td>3</td><td>Grêmio</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>MF</td><th>João Paulo</th><td>26 May 1998</td><td>43</td><td>1</td><td>FCSB</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>MF</td><th>Jamiro Monteiro</th><td>23 November 1993</td><td>59</td><td>5</td><td>NEC</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>MF</td><th>Garry Rodrigues (third captain)</th><td>27 November 1990</td><td>63</td><td>10</td><td>Apollon Limassol</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>MF</td><th>Deroy Duarte</th><td>4 July 1999</td><td>37</td><td>1</td><td>Ludogorets Razgrad</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>MF</td><th>Laros Duarte</th><td>28 February 1997</td><td>24</td><td>1</td><td>Puskás Akadémia</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>MF</td><th>Yannick Semedo</th><td>29 December 1995</td><td>13</td><td>1</td><td>Unattached</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>MF</td><th>Telmo Arcanjo</th><td>21 June 2001</td><td>18</td><td>1</td><td>Vitória de Guimarães</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>MF</td><th>Hélio Varela</th><td>3 May 2002</td><td>24</td><td>1</td><td>Maccabi Tel Aviv</td></tr><tr><td colspan="7"></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>FW</td><th>Gilson Benchimol</th><td>29 December 2001</td><td>23</td><td>6</td><td>Akron Tolyatti</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>FW</td><th>Willy Semedo</th><td>27 April 1994</td><td>41</td><td>3</td><td>United</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>FW</td><th>Dailon Livramento</th><td>4 May 2001</td><td>25</td><td>7</td><td>Hellas Verona</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>FW</td><th>Ryan Mendes (captain)</th><td>8 January 1990</td><td>102</td><td>22</td><td>Berkane</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>FW</td><th>Nuno da Costa</th><td>10 February 1991</td><td>13</td><td>2</td><td>İstanbul Başakşehir</td></tr></tbody></table>

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Cape Verde in the last 12 months and are still eligible to represent.

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos.</th><th>Player</th><th>Date of birth (age)</th><th>Caps</th><th>Goals</th><th>Club</th><th>Latest call-up</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>GK</td><th>Bruno Varela</th><td>4 November 1994</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>Al-Hazem</td><td>v. Egypt, 17 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td colspan="7"></td></tr><tr><td>DF</td><th>Jorginho Soares</th><td>18 July 1999</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>Montana</td><td>v. Finland, 30 March 2025</td></tr><tr><td>DF</td><th>Jójó</th><td>19 May 2001</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>Vizela</td><td>v. Egypt, 17 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td>DF</td><th>David Moreira</th><td>18 April 2004</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>Gil Vicente</td><td>v. Egypt, 17 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td>DF</td><th>Ricardo Santos</th><td>18 June 1995</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>Sheffield Wednesday</td><td>v. Egypt, 17 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td colspan="7"></td></tr><tr><td>MF</td><th>Jordan Mendes</th><td>7 March 2004</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>Rodez</td><td>v. Finland, 30 March 2025</td></tr><tr><td>MF</td><th>Ayoni Santos</th><td>18 July 2005</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>Sparta Rotterdam</td><td>v. Finland, 30 March 2025</td></tr><tr><td>MF</td><th>Aílson Tavares</th><td>20 July 1998</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>Beitar Jerusalem</td><td>v. Egypt, 17 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td colspan="7"></td></tr><tr><td>FW</td><th>Ieltsin Camões</th><td>16 April 1998</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>Al Ahly</td><td>v. Finland, 30 March 2025</td></tr><tr><td>FW</td><th>Fabio Domingos</th><td>5 October 2007</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>Paris Saint-Germain Youth</td><td>v. Finland, 30 March 2025</td></tr><tr><td>FW</td><th>Heri Tavares</th><td>19 February 1997</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>U Craiova</td><td>v. Egypt, 17 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td>FW</td><th>Alessio da Cruz</th><td>18 January 1997</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>Anorthosis Famagusta</td><td>v. Egypt, 17 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td colspan="7">WD Player withdrew from the roster for non-injury related reasons. INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. SUS Suspended from the national team.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Records

Cape Verde national football team

As of 3 July 2026 Players in bold are still active with Cape Verde.

Most appearances

Ryan Mendes is Cape Verde's top goalscorer and their most capped player.

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Player</th><th>Caps</th><th>Goals</th><th>Career</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Ryan Mendes</td><td>102</td><td>22</td><td>2010–present</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Vozinha</td><td>94</td><td>0</td><td>2012–present</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Garry Rodrigues</td><td>63</td><td>10</td><td>2013–present</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Babanco</td><td>62</td><td>5</td><td>2007–2019</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Stopira</td><td>61</td><td>4</td><td>2007–present</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Jamiro Monteiro</td><td>59</td><td>5</td><td>2016–present</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">7</td><td>Héldon</td><td>52</td><td>15</td><td>2008–2019</td></tr><tr><td>Marco Soares</td><td>52</td><td>3</td><td>2006–2021</td></tr><tr><td>Fernando Varela</td><td>52</td><td>3</td><td>2008–2019</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Pico Lopes</td><td>49</td><td>0</td><td>2019–present</td></tr></tbody></table>

Top goalscorers

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Player</th><th>Goals</th><th>Caps</th><th>Ratio</th><th>Career</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Ryan Mendes</td><td>22</td><td>102</td><td>0.22</td><td>2010–present</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Héldon</td><td>15</td><td>52</td><td>0.29</td><td>2008–2019</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Caló</td><td>11</td><td>27</td><td>0.41</td><td>1995–2007</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Garry Rodrigues</td><td>10</td><td>63</td><td>0.16</td><td>2013–present</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Júlio Tavares</td><td>8</td><td>48</td><td>0.17</td><td>2012–2022</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">6</td><td>Lito</td><td>7</td><td>47</td><td>0.15</td><td>2002–2012</td></tr><tr><td>Dailon Livramento</td><td>7</td><td>26</td><td>0.27</td><td>2024–present</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">8</td><td>Toni</td><td>6</td><td>11</td><td>0.55</td><td>1992–2003</td></tr><tr><td>Gilson Benchimol</td><td>6</td><td>23</td><td>0.27</td><td>2020–present</td></tr><tr><td>Bebé</td><td>6</td><td>27</td><td>0.22</td><td>2022–present</td></tr><tr><td>Djaniny</td><td>6</td><td>35</td><td>0.17</td><td>2012–2020</td></tr></tbody></table>

Cape Verde records and statistics

Cape Verde national football team

• Cape Verde player sent off: - (8 times) • Janicio Gomes - v DR Congo, 4 September 2005 (91st minute) • Kay - v Morocco, 29 March 2016 (53rd minute) • Hélder - v Lesotho, 9 September 2018 (87th minute) • Patrick Andrade - v Senegal, 25 January 2022 (21st minute) • Vózinha - v Senegal, 25 January 2022 (57th minute) • Steeve Furtado - v Comoros, 17 October 2023 (45th minute) • Kevin Pina - v Mauritania, 19 November 2024 (60th minute) • Diney Borges - v Chile, 27 March 2026 (43rd minute) • Opponent player sent off: - (7 times) • Lounes Gaouaoui - v Algeria, 2 June 2007 (26th minute) • Alex Song - v Cameroon, 6 September 2008 (90th minute) • Andre Pinto - v Portugal, 31 March 2015 (60th minute) • Eric Mathoho - v South Africa, 1 September 2017 (68th minute) • Ally Niyonzima - v Rwanda, 17 November 2020 (29th minute) • Yared Bayeh - v Ethiopia, 9 January 2022 (12th minute) • Hamad Al Shamsan - v Bahrain, 23 September 2022 (77th minute) • Cape Verde first matches played: v Guinea, 29 April 1978 • Cape Verde first goals scored: v Guinea-Bissau, 1 May 1978 (2nd minute) • Cape Verde first official goals scored: - Nelo Tambarina - v Mali, 17 November 1995 (67th minute) • Most appearances: 101 - Ryan Mendes - 2010-present • Top goalscorer: 22 - Ryan Mendes - 2010-present • Most consecutive appearances: 17 - (2 times) - Ryan Mendes and Vózinha - from 20 March 2025 to present • Largest comeback to wins the match: 2 - v Congo, 10 January 2015 • Largest blown lead to lose the match: 2 - v Togo, 10 September 2023 • Longest streak without a draw: 21 - from 29 April 1978 to 8 February 1984 • Longest winning streak: 3 - (5 times) • from 11 May 2000 to 3 July 2000 • from 25 March 2009 to 4 September 2009 • from 16 November 2010 to 9 February 2011 • from 7 October 2021 to 13 November 2021 • from 23 March 2022 to 28 March 2022 • Longest unbeaten streak: 9 - from 20 March 2025 to 17 November 2025 • Longest losing streak: 7 - from 4 June 2005 to 3 September 2006 • Longest winless streak: 9 - from 28 November 1997 to 4 May 2000 • Longest goalless streak: 480 minutes - from 4 July 1985 to 2 March 1987 • Most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal: 412 minutes - from 29 January 2024 to 6 September 2024 • Longest goalless streak by both teams: 234 minutes - from 9 September 2007 to 5 December 2007 • Biggest wins: 6 - (2 times) • v São Tomé and Príncipe, 13 June 2015 • v Liechtenstein, 25 March 2022 • Biggest defeat: 4 - (6 times) • v Senegal, 12 February 1981 • v Senegal, 4 November 2001 • v Ghana, 8 October 2005 • v Guinea, 9 September 2007 • v Burkina Faso, 14 November 2017 • v Algeria, 12 October 2023 • Most goals by a player in a match: 3 - Gilson Benchimol - v Liechtenstein, 25 March 2022 • Most goals by a opponent player in a match: 3 - (2 times) • Pauleta - v Portugal, 27 May 2006 • Préjuce Nakoulma - v Burkina Faso, 14 November 2017 • Most goals in a match: 7 - v São Tomé and Príncipe, 13 June 2015 • Most goals in first half: 4 - (2 times) • v São Tomé and Príncipe, 13 June 2015 • v Liechtenstein, 25 March 2022 • Most goals in second half: 3 - (4 times) • v Swaziland, 16 November 2003 • v Niger, 14 November 2014 • v Congo, 10 January 2015 • v São Tomé and Príncipe, 13 June 2015 • Most goals conceded in a match: 5 - (3 times) • v Senegal, 4 November 2001 • v Togo, 8 June 2003 • v Algeria, 12 October 2023 • Most goals conceded in first half: 4 - v Guinea, 9 September 2007 • Most goals conceded in second half: 4 - v Senegal, 4 November 2001 • Most goals by both teams in a match: 8 - v São Tomé and Príncipe, 13 June 2015 • Most goals by both teams in first half: 5 - v Togo, 8 June 2003 • Most goals by both teams in second half: 5 - v Senegal, 4 November 2001 • Fewest goals by both teams in a match: 0 - (33 times) - Last matches played: v Saudi Arabia, 26 June 2026 and v Spain, 15 June 2026 • Fastest goals: 2nd minute - (4 times) • v Guinea-Bissau, 1 May 1978 • Cafú - v Burkina Faso, 9 October 2004 • Kenny Rocha - v Comoros, 17 October 2023 • Ryan Mendes - v Guyana, 21 March 2024 • Fastest goals by a opponent: 1st minute - (2 times) • Pauleta - v Portugal, 27 May 2006 • 58 seconds - Victor Osimhen - v Nigeria, 16 November 2021 • 45 seconds - Pico Lopes - v Libya, 8 October 2025 • Fastest 2 goals to start the match: 13 minutes - Zimbabwe, 8 October 2011 • Fastest 2 goals conceded to start the match: 12 minutes - (2 times) • v Algeria, 21 April 2000 • v South Africa, 4 June 2005

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

<table><thead><tr><th colspan="10">FIFA World Cup record</th><th rowspan="39"></th><th colspan="6">Qualification record</th></tr><tr><th>Year</th><th>Round</th><th>Position</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>Squad</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1930 to 1974</td><td colspan="9">Part of Portugal</td><td colspan="6">Part of Portugal</td></tr><tr><td>1978 and 1982</td><td colspan="9">Not a member of FIFA</td><td colspan="6">Not a member of FIFA</td></tr><tr><td>1986 to 1998</td><td colspan="9">Did not enter</td><td colspan="6">Did not enter</td></tr><tr><td>2002</td><td colspan="9" rowspan="6">Did not qualify</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>12</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>6</td><td>12</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>7</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>9</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Round of 32</td><td>32nd</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>Squad</td><td>10</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>16</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2030</td><td colspan="9" rowspan="2">To be determined</td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2">To be determined</td></tr><tr><td>2034</td></tr><tr><th>Total: 1/10</th><th>Round of 32</th><th>32nd</th><th>4</th><th>0</th><th>3</th><th>1</th><th>4</th><th>5</th><th>—N/a</th><th>50</th><th>23</th><th>7</th><th>20</th><th>58</th><th>60</th></tr></tbody></table>

Africa Cup of Nations

<table><thead><tr><th colspan="10">Africa Cup of Nations record</th><th rowspan="39"></th><th colspan="6">Qualification record</th></tr><tr><th>Year</th><th>Round</th><th>Position</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>Squad</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1957 to 1974</td><td colspan="9">Part of Portugal</td><td colspan="6">Part of Portugal</td></tr><tr><td>1976 to 1992</td><td colspan="9">Not a member of CAF</td><td colspan="6">Not a member of CAF</td></tr><tr><td>1994</td><td colspan="9">Did not qualify</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>1996</td><td colspan="9">Withdrew</td><td colspan="6">Withdrew</td></tr><tr><td>1998</td><td colspan="9">Did not enter</td><td colspan="6">Did not enter</td></tr><tr><td>2000</td><td colspan="9" rowspan="7">Did not qualify</td><td>2</td><td rowspan="2">0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>2002</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>2004</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>9</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>12</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td>11</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>7</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>Quarter-finals</td><td>7th</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>Squad</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td rowspan="3">0</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Group stage</td><td>11th</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>Squad</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>9</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td colspan="9" rowspan="2">Did not qualify</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>10</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Round of 16</td><td>15th</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>Squad</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Quarter-finals</td><td>5th</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>Squad</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td colspan="9">Did not qualify</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>2027</td><td colspan="9" rowspan="2">TBD</td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2">TBD</td></tr><tr><td>2029</td></tr><tr><th>Total</th><th>Quarter-finals</th><th>4/35</th><th>16</th><th>5</th><th>8</th><th>3</th><th>14</th><th>12</th><th>—N/a</th><th>82</th><th>33</th><th>15</th><th>34</th><th>90</th><th>95</th></tr></tbody></table>

Record against other nations

Cape Verde national football team

As of 3 July 2026 after match against Argentina national football team

Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record

<table><thead><tr><th>Opponent</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>% Win</th><th>First meeting</th><th>Last meeting</th><th>Federation</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td> Algeria</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>13</td><td>−7</td><td>16.67%</td><td>2000</td><td>2023</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Andorra</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>+1</td><td>50%</td><td>2018</td><td>2020</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Angola</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>10</td><td>9</td><td>+1</td><td>37.5%</td><td>1988</td><td>2025</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Argentina</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>-1</td><td>0%</td><td>2026</td><td>2026</td><td>CONMEBOL</td></tr><tr><td> Bahrain</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>+1</td><td>100%</td><td>2022</td><td>2022</td><td>AFC</td></tr><tr><td> Bermuda</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>+3</td><td>100%</td><td>2026</td><td>2026</td><td>CONCACAF</td></tr><tr><td> Botswana</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>–2</td><td>0%</td><td>2024</td><td>2024</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Burkina Faso</td><td>9</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>11</td><td>–4</td><td>44.44%</td><td>2004</td><td>2023</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Cameroon</td><td>9</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>10</td><td>12</td><td>–2</td><td>22.22%</td><td>2008</td><td>2025</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Central African Republic</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>+1</td><td>50%</td><td>2021</td><td>2021</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Chile</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>–2</td><td>0%</td><td>2026</td><td>2026</td><td>CONMEBOL</td></tr><tr><td> Comoros</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>–1</td><td>0%</td><td>2023</td><td>2023</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> DR Congo</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>–1</td><td>0%</td><td>2004</td><td>2015</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Ecuador</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>–1</td><td>0%</td><td>2022</td><td>2022</td><td>CONMEBOL</td></tr><tr><td> Egypt</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>–3</td><td>0%</td><td>2024</td><td>2025</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Equatorial Guinea</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>12</td><td>0</td><td>+12</td><td>100%</td><td>2009</td><td>2024</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Eswatini</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>1</td><td>+9</td><td>66.67%</td><td>2003</td><td>2025</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Ethiopia</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>+1</td><td>100%</td><td>2022</td><td>2022</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Finland</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0%</td><td>2026</td><td>2026</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Gabon</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0%</td><td>2013</td><td>2013</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Gambia</td><td>9</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>13</td><td>–6</td><td>22.22%</td><td>1982</td><td>2007</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Georgia</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0%</td><td>2025</td><td>2025</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Ghana</td><td>7</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>10</td><td>–6</td><td>42.85%</td><td>2001</td><td>2024</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Guadeloupe</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>+2</td><td>100%</td><td>2022</td><td>2022</td><td>CONCACAF</td></tr><tr><td> Guinea</td><td>8</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>6</td><td>10</td><td>–4</td><td>25.00%</td><td>1982</td><td>2020</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Guinea-Bissau</td><td>13</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>13</td><td>13</td><td>0</td><td>38.46%</td><td>1979</td><td>2010</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Guyana</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>+1</td><td>100%</td><td>2024</td><td>2024</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Iran</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0%</td><td>2025</td><td>2025</td><td>AFC</td></tr><tr><td> Malaysia</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>75.00%</td><td>2025</td><td>2025</td><td>AFC</td></tr><tr><td> Kenya</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>–1</td><td>25.00%</td><td>2002</td><td>2015</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Lesotho</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0%</td><td>2018</td><td>2019</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Liberia</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>+1</td><td>66.67%</td><td>2000</td><td>2021</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Libya</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>+1</td><td>50.00%</td><td>2015</td><td>2025</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Liechtenstein</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>+6</td><td>100%</td><td>2022</td><td>2022</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Luxembourg</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>+2</td><td>25.00%</td><td>2002</td><td>2017</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Madagascar</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>+6</td><td>100%</td><td>2012</td><td>2012</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Mali</td><td>13</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>7</td><td>15</td><td>–8</td><td>30.76%</td><td>1981</td><td>2011</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Mauritania</td><td>14</td><td>7</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>20</td><td>12</td><td>+8</td><td>50.00%</td><td>1982</td><td>2024</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Mauritius</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>+6</td><td>100%</td><td>2008</td><td>2025</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Morocco</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>–3</td><td>0%</td><td>2013</td><td>2023</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Mozambique</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>+3</td><td>60.00%</td><td>2014</td><td>2024</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Niger</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>+4</td><td>100%</td><td>2014</td><td>2014</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Nigeria</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>–1</td><td>0%</td><td>2013</td><td>2021</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Portugal</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>–1</td><td>33.33%</td><td>2006</td><td>2015</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Rwanda</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0%</td><td>2020</td><td>2020</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> San Marino</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>+2</td><td>100%</td><td>2022</td><td>2022</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Saudi Arabia</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0%</td><td>2026</td><td>2026</td><td>AFC</td></tr><tr><td> Senegal</td><td>20</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>16</td><td>8</td><td>34</td><td>–26</td><td>10.00%</td><td>1979</td><td>2022</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Serbia</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>+3</td><td>100.00%</td><td>2026</td><td>2026</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Sierra Leone</td><td>13</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>14</td><td>–7</td><td>30.76%</td><td>1983</td><td>2022</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> South Africa</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>33.33%</td><td>2004</td><td>2024</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Spain</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0%</td><td>2026</td><td>2026</td><td>UEFA</td></tr><tr><td> Tanzania</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>50.00%</td><td>2008</td><td>2018</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Togo</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>60.00%</td><td>2003</td><td>2023</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Tunisia</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>6</td><td>–4</td><td>0%</td><td>2012</td><td>2015</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Uganda</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>–2</td><td>25.00%</td><td>2004</td><td>2018</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Uruguay</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>00.00%</td><td>2026</td><td>2026</td><td>CONMEBOL</td></tr><tr><td> Zambia</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>33.33%</td><td>2014</td><td>2015</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><td> Zimbabwe</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>+1</td><td>50.00%</td><td>2010</td><td>2011</td><td>CAF</td></tr><tr><th>Total (55)</th><th>243</th><th>90</th><th>60</th><th>93</th><th>255</th><th>266</th><th>–11</th><th>37.37%</th><th>1979</th><th>2026</th><th>FIFA</th></tr></tbody></table>

Honours

Regional

• Amílcar Cabral Cup • Champions (1): (/wiki/2000AmílcarCabralCup) • Runners-up (1): (/wiki/2007AmílcarCabralCup) • Third place (1): (/wiki/1995AmílcarCabralCup) • Lusofonia Games • Champions (1): (/wiki/Footballatthe2009LusofoniaGames) • Third place (1): (/wiki/Footballatthe2006LusofoniaGames)

Friendly

• FIFA Series (1): 2024 Saudi Arabia A