Ahly star Ieltsin Camões earns maiden Cape Verde call-up for 2026 World Cup preparations

Cape Verde coach Pedro Popesta has handed Al Ahly star Ieltsin Camões maiden call-up as the team gears up for the upcoming March international break

As part of preparations for their maiden World Cup participation, Cape Verde are set to test themselves against Finland and New Zealand this month.

Camões, born in Angola, had previously been eligible to play for both Angola and Portugal but never featured for the Portuguese national team.

With Angola failing to qualify for the World Cup, Camões now hopes to represent Cape Verde on football’s biggest stage.

Cape Verde secured their maiden World Cup appearance after topping Group D, which featured tough competitors including Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Mauritius, and Eswatini.

The nation has been drawn into Group H at the World Cup alongside football heavyweights Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.

Camões’ journey to this milestone has been a winding one. He moved early to Portugal to join the youth setups of Sporting Lisbon, Marítimo, and Club Deportivo Nacional. Progressing through the ranks, he played for Marítimo’s second team, then Uniao Almeriam, followed by a stint with Alverka’s second team. Seeking opportunities abroad, Kamwesh moved to Skellefteå in Sweden, then to Prague, before joining Tromsø IL in Norway in February last year for a transfer fee of €250,000.

Since joining Al Ahly last January from Tromsø, Camões has impressed in the Egyptian Premier League, earning him a spot in Cape Verde’s squad. His inclusion marks a significant boost for the team as they seek to make a mark in the World Cup, blending talent from domestic leagues and abroad.

Coach Popesta will look to integrate Camões quickly, giving him opportunities to adapt to the team ahead of the friendlies in New Zealand. These matches against Chile and Finland will be crucial for tactical experimentation and squad cohesion ahead of the global tournament.

For Camões, the call-up is the realization of a long-term ambition: to represent Cape Verde on the world stage. If he features at the World Cup, it will be a historic moment for both the player and the country, highlighting the journey of a footballer who has navigated multiple leagues across Europe and Africa to reach the pinnacle of international competition.

Cape Verde’s fans will now eagerly watch the squad in action, hoping that the integration of and Camões other key players provides the momentum needed to challenge their formidable World Cup group rivals.