‘Cape Verde are a family’ – Former coach Rui Aguas hails fans’ role in World Cup dream

Former Cape Verde head coach Rui Aguas has paid tribute to the extraordinary bond between the Blue Sharks and their supporters, describing the national team as “a real family” as the country continues its remarkable World Cup campaign.

The island nation has captured global attention with impressive performances against Spain and Uruguay, keeping alive hopes of a historic place in the knockout rounds.

For Águas, who spent four years in charge of Cape Verde across two spells, the team’s success is built on much more than tactical organisation or individual quality.

“The Cape Verde team is a real family,” he said.

“The unique way this group experiences football is deeply connected to the fans, whose support is truly extraordinary.”

The former coach believes the relationship between players and supporters has become one of the team’s greatest strengths during its rise on the international stage.

“I have never seen anything quite like it,” he added. “The supporters are an absolutely vital part of this journey.”

According to Águas, the passion of Cape Verdean fans has helped create a unique environment around the squad, with supporters sharing every emotional moment of the team’s World Cup adventure.

“They live and breathe every single moment alongside the players,” he said.

“Their unwavering backing makes a massive difference.”

Cape Verde have already surpassed expectations at the tournament. Few predicted they would take points from Spain and Uruguay, yet the Blue Sharks remain in contention to reach the last 32.

Águas believes that achievement has been driven by a collective spirit that continues to define the team.

“At the beginning, nobody thought it was possible to draw against Spain,” he said.

“Cape Verde is very strong as a team.”

The former Benfica striker also stressed that progress over the years has been underpinned by improvements behind the scenes, with better organisation and support helping the national team compete with stronger footballing nations.

As attention turns to the decisive clash against Saudi Arabia, Águas expects another fiercely contested encounter but remains confident Cape Verde can continue making history.

The growing optimism surrounding the Blue Sharks reflects a nation that has embraced its team’s World Cup journey, with players and supporters united by the belief that an even greater achievement could still be within reach.