Cape Verde names 24-man squad for AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Egypt and Mauritania
Cape Verde coach Pedro Bubista has revealed his 24-man squad for the crucial opening matches of the AFCON Morocco 2025 qualifiers. The Blue Sharks will face Egypt on September 6 in Cairo before returning home to play Mauritania on September 10 at the National Stadium of Praia.
The experienced squad includes familiar faces such as goalkeeper Josimar Dias, better known as Vozinha, and forward Ryan Mendes, both key players for Cape Verde in recent years.
The team will begin preparations in Cairo on September 1, as they aim to kick off their campaign with strong performances in Group C.
Cape Verde will be up against formidable opposition in their first match as they face the Pharaohs of Egypt, one of the top teams in African football.
The game, scheduled for September 6 at the Cairo International Stadium, will be a significant test for the Blue Sharks.
Egypt boasts a wealth of talent, including Premier League stars, making it a challenging start to the qualification process.
Pedro Bubista has opted for a balanced squad, mixing seasoned veterans with emerging talents to compete in these pivotal fixtures.
Goalkeeper Vozinha, who plays his club football for GD Chaves in Portugal, is expected to bring stability to the backline, while Ryan Mendes, currently with Kocaelispor in Turkey, will provide a cutting edge in attack.
In addition to Mendes, the forward line features Willy Semedo of Omonia in Cyprus and Patrick Fernandes of Marítimo in Portugal. Both players are likely to be key in Cape Verde’s bid to break down Egypt’s defence and secure vital points on the road.
On the defensive side, the squad includes Logan Costa from Villarreal in Spain, Roberto Lopes, known as “Pico,” who plays for Shamrock Rovers in Ireland, and Dylan Tavares of Bastia in France.
These players will be tasked with keeping Egypt’s attacking threats at bay.
Cape Verde’s midfield will also feature Patrick Andrade of Qarabag in Azerbaijan, João Paulo Fernandes from Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova, and Kevin Pina, who plies his trade at FK Krasnodar in Russia.
This central unit will be crucial in maintaining possession and dictating the tempo of the game against their high-caliber opponents.
After their encounter with Egypt, the Blue Sharks will head back to Cape Verde for a home fixture against Mauritania.
This match, set for September 10, is expected to be another challenging test.
Mauritania has shown significant improvement in recent years, and the game in Praia will be a key fixture in Cape Verde’s quest to secure qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Bubista’s squad selection reflects his confidence in the abilities of the Blue Sharks to rise to the challenge posed by two difficult opponents.
As Cape Verde begins their qualification journey, fans will be looking to the likes of Ryan Mendes and Vozinha to inspire the team to success and keep their hopes alive of qualifying for another major tournament.
Here is the full list of the 24 players called up for Cape Verde’s AFCON 2025 qualifiers:
Goalkeepers:
- Josimar Dias ‘Vozinha’ (GD Chaves/Portugal)
- Bruno Varela (Vitória SC/Portugal)
- Dylan Silva (FC Sportist/Bulgaria)
Defenders:
- Roberto Lopes ‘Pico’ (Shamrock Rovers/Ireland)
- Edilson Borges ‘Diney’ (Al Bataeh/UAE)
- Logan Costa (Villarreal/Spain)
- Dylan Tavares (Bastia/France)
- Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew/USA)
- Kelvin Pires ‘Djack’ (SJK/Finland)
- Wagner Pina (Estoril Praia/Portugal)
Midfielders:
- Patrick Andrade (Qarabag/Azerbaijan)
- João Paulo Fernandes (Sheriff/Moldova)
- Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets/Bulgaria)
- Kevin Pina (FK Krasnodar/Russia)
- Laros Duarte (Puskás Akadémia FC/Hungary)
- David Tavares (Gloria Buzau/Romania)
- Diogo Mendes (Rapid Bucuresti/Romania)
Forwards:
- Ryan Mendes (Kocaelispor/Turkey)
- Willy Semedo (Omonia/Cyprus)
- Gilson Benchimol (Akron Togliatti/Russia)
- Helio Varela (Gent/Belgium)
- Dailon Livramento (Hellas Verona/Italy)
- Patrick Fernandes (Marítimo/Portugal)
- Fabricio Garcia (Estoril Praia/Portugal)
Cape Verde’s campaign for AFCON 2025 begins with great anticipation and determination as they aim to prove their strength on the African football stage.
