Cape Verde bow out, but their WAFCON story is only beginning

Cape Verde’s maiden Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign will end at the group stage, but the island nation leaves Morocco with far more than disappointing results.

Eliminated after defeats to Ghana and Mali, the tournament newcomers have shown enough promise to believe their first appearance on Africa’s biggest women’s football stage is only the beginning of a much bigger journey.

A 2-0 defeat to Ghana in their opening Group D fixture was followed by a spirited 3-2 loss to Mali, ending any hopes of reaching the quarter-finals before their final match against Cameroon. While the results were unforgiving, they did little to overshadow what has been a remarkable rise for a national team that played its first international match only eight years ago.

For a country of just over half a million people, qualifying for WAFCON was an achievement few imagined possible. Their route to Morocco was dramatic, overturning a first-leg defeat to Mali in the qualifiers by completing a stunning comeback in Bamako to secure a 4-3 aggregate victory and book a place at the tournament for the first time.

Their qualification also capped a memorable period for Cape Verdean football. Just weeks earlier, the men’s national team had impressed on its FIFA World Cup debut, narrowly losing to reigning champions Argentina after extra time in the Round of 16.

According to Cape Verde Football Federation vice-president for women’s football, Tatiana Carvalho, that success inspired the women’s squad before they arrived in Morocco.

“The men’s team’s exploits are a huge source of motivation and inspiration for us.”

“We are forging our own path, based on the same principles, determined to honour our flag, our Federation, and all the people of Cape Verde.”

A young team learning on Africa’s biggest stage

Cape Verde’s rapid progress has been guided by head coach Silveria Nedio, who has overseen the women’s national team since its formation in 2018. The 60-year-old, a former handball player, rhythmic gymnast and footballer, has played a central role in building the country’s women’s football programme from the ground up.

Ahead of the team’s tournament opener, Nedio spoke of her pride at leading Cape Verde into its first WAFCON.

“It’s an absolute privilege to be here.”

“We hope to play a good match, to play with determination, because we know Ghana is a strong and very determined team. We are motivated as a group.”

Although Cape Verde struggled against Ghana, they produced a far stronger display against Mali. After falling behind to Oumou Kone’s opener, Eveline Varela equalised before Mali regained control through Fatoumata Niakate and Fatoumata Diarra. Alivia Kelly struck deep into stoppage time to reduce the deficit, giving the newcomers two goals and valuable confidence despite another defeat.

Competing in a group that also featured Cameroon, who secured qualification with two straight victories, left Cape Verde with virtually no margin for error. Yet their performances improved with every match, offering encouragement for the future.

Preparation that changed everything

Ironically, an unexpected postponement of the tournament may have helped Cape Verde’s preparations.

Originally scheduled for March, WAFCON was delayed by several months, giving the inexperienced squad additional time to develop chemistry and strengthen the team.

Forward Sandra Martins believes that extra preparation proved invaluable.

“We talked about it among ourselves, and we needed more time to prepare.”

“We recently played two friendlies against Ivory Coast, and those matches were really useful for us.”

The extended build-up was especially significant given the makeup of the squad. Fourteen players are based in Portugal, with others spread across Europe and only a handful playing domestically. The additional months allowed the coaching staff to integrate new faces and build cohesion among players from different footballing backgrounds.

Martins had also urged observers not to underestimate Cape Verde before the competition.

“I think we will do well, probably better than people expect from newcomers.”

A legacy beyond results

Cape Verde will now conclude its campaign against already-qualified Cameroon with pride rather than qualification at stake.

Regardless of the outcome, the tournament has established an important platform for women’s football in the country. The team’s qualification, competitive displays and growing international experience have provided young girls across the archipelago with role models they had never seen before on the continental stage.

Their debut may have ended sooner than they hoped, but Cape Verde has already achieved something far more lasting. In just eight years, the nation has gone from assembling its first women’s national team to competing with Africa’s established powers.

The victories will come later. For now, Cape Verde leaves Morocco with belief, valuable lessons and the promise that its first appearance at WAFCON is unlikely to be its last.