1 hour ago Much recognition for Cape Verde's performances indispensable spell to manager Bubista, a erstwhile planetary himself who has been successful complaint since January 2020.
A unchangeable coaching set-up has allowed the 56-year-old erstwhile centre-back to physique a compact and well-drilled broadside with an organised defence, method midfielders and talented forwards who upset Ghana and drew with Egypt during a tally to the quarter-finals astatine Afcon 2023, having lone made their tourney debut 10 years earlier.
They whitethorn person had Vozinha to convey for the 7 saves the seasoned goalkeeper made successful the goalless gully with Spain, but their subject was underlined by the information the Blue Sharks lone conceded 1 foul against the 2010 champions - the fewest recorded by a squad successful a World Cup lucifer since 1966.
"We ever bid and play arsenic 1 unit, truthful everything we did successful the crippled was not our archetypal clip that we did it," defender Sidny Lopes Cabral told the BBC World Service.
"For us, it's our game. This is however we play, this is who we are.
"This is our property arsenic a squad and arsenic defenders."
Cape Verde took a much attacking and expansive attack successful their 2nd Group H outing against Uruguay, but besides demonstrated their steely resoluteness by grabbing a second-half equaliser.
"More important than the effect is to beryllium capable to amusement our individuality arsenic a team, our strength, our unity, and besides our resilience," Bubista said.
Bubista was recognised for his accomplishment successful delivering World Cup qualification by being named the continent's manager of the twelvemonth for 2025 by the Confederation of African Football.
He has ever believed that his broadside had the imaginable to premix it with the world's elite.
"We person done truly good considering however tiny our state is," helium told BBC Sport Africa earlier the 2021 Afcon, erstwhile the Blue Sharks reached the past 16.
"I deliberation successful the aboriginal we'll beryllium astatine the World Cup."
That bold prediction has travel to pass, and present Bubista hopes Cape Verde's achievements astatine the expanded tourney tin animate different underdogs astir the globe.
"I judge that shot belongs to everyone, oregon is for everyone," helium said.
English (US)·