The Cape Verde national football team formed as recently as 1982. The team joined both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football in 1986. These days, the number of Cape Verdians that live off the islands is greater than those who stay. Many players with greater potential opt to play for other national teams.
The team played its first international after the end of Portuguese rule in 1979, a few years before the football federation officially formed. Caper Verde lost 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau.
The 2002 world cup was Cape Verde’s first qualifying experience for the competition. The team did not last long, losing a round one tie to Algeria. The 2006 world cup saw an improvement as Cape Verde beat their first round opponents Swaziland. This was the team’s first world cup qualifying win. In the next round the team won three and drew one of ten matches. Despite finishing fifth of six, the campaign was a great experience for the young nation and a sign of their talent.
By the 2010 world cup, the team had advanced so that they no longer needed to play in the first round. The second round saw Cape Verde face African giants Cameroon, as well as Mauritius and Tanzania. The team won three of six games and ended the round in second place, the very best they could have hoped for.
Ranked 39th by FIFA, the Cape Verde national football team deserve their place among the top one-hundred teams.
World cup 2018
Fixtures to be announced.