Fernando Neves, the 34-year-old defender from Châteauroux, expresses his joy about playing in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with Cape Verde. In an interview with France Football before a friendly match against Ghana in Lisbon, here are some excerpts:
- “In the country, everyone talks about us. The CAN is a dream come true.”
- “For the return match in Cameroon, the government chartered a charter, a first! We were able to be accompanied by our families, the president of the Federation, and ministers!”
- “Many people are unaware that Cape Verde is a poor country, that the federation has few resources. Often, we have to pay for our plane tickets ourselves, and the national team then reimburses us. Besides, we do not receive bonuses, even after our qualification for the CAN. We play for the love of the country and out of passion for football.”
These statements highlight the significance of Cape Verde’s qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations and shed light on the challenges and passion that players from countries with limited resources may face in international competitions.
