Julio Tavares, the Dijon striker with five goals in Ligue 2, celebrated his first selection with the Cape Verde national team, known as the Blue Sharks, during a friendly match against Ghana on November 14 (1-1). The forward expressed his hope to be part of the squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (CAN) in South Africa in January.
Scoring during matches is seen as an opportunity for players to catch the coach’s attention, and Tavares considers his selection a source of pride for himself and his family. He followed Cape Verde’s CAN qualifying match against Cameroon on his phone and was thrilled by their victory. The celebration of the achievement in the country added to the significance of the moment.
Born in Cape Verde and having moved to France at the age of 6, Julio Tavares did not go through youth training before joining Dijon. Sébastien Larcier, the club supervisor, played a key role in convincing the staff and managers to sign him for Dijon. Tavares expressed gratitude for being offered his first professional contract, highlighting it as an important moment in his career. Reflecting on his journey, he mentioned that he never thought he would become a professional player and is grateful for the opportunities he has been given.