CAN 2023: Cape Verde Summons 5 Players In Portugal
The Cape Verdean coach called up five footballers who play in Portugal for the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (CAN), to be played in Côte d'Ivoire between January 13th and February 11th.
Selector Pedro Brito 'Bubista''s squad includes goalkeepers Márcio da Rosa (Anadia) and Dylan Silva (Sintrense), right-back João Correia (Chaves), midfielder Carlos Fernandes 'Cuca' (União Leiria) and forward Hélio Varela (Portimonense).
The Selected
Of the 26 selected, there are also athletes who play in countries such as Austria, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Netherlands, Russia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, the United States, France, Ireland and Slovakia, with one who plays in the archipelago.
“This call is about balance. We have three players who were in the previous CAN and we have six from the younger ranks, we always try to mix experience with youth”.
Selector Pedro Brito ‘Bubista’ said, expressing satisfaction with the work that the Cape Verdean Football Federation (FCF) has done to help the team.
“It was a year that left us very satisfied with what we did. We managed to qualify for the CAN here at our National Stadium”.
Our team also managed to be nominated for the best of the year in Africa and the federation has done everything to always bring new players to represent our team better. So we are quite satisfied.”
He added, stating “complete confidence” in the 26 players “for the country to do well CAN".
The return of striker Djaniny Semedo and the debut of Laros Duarte are the latest additions to the Cape Verdean team's squad list for the 34th edition of the competition, with 'Bubista' mentioning that goalkeeper Bruno Varela (Vitória de Guimarães) will be absent by “personal decision”.
The group
According to the FCF, Cape Verde begins preparation work on January 01st, in Troia (Portugal) and has on its agenda a preparation meeting with the Tunisian counterpart, in Tunis, scheduled for January 10th, traveling the following day to Ivory Coast.
Cape Verde shares Group B with the teams of Ghana, Mozambique and Egypt, the current African runners-up. The Cape Verdean team makes its debut on January 14th against Ghana, in the first round of Group B.
According to the calendar released by the African Football Confederation (CAF), the 'Blue Sharks', as the Cape Verde team is known, will play again on the 19th of January, in a Portuguese-speaking duel against their counterpart from Mozambique and will end its group stage on the 22nd, against Egypt.
This will be Cape Verde's fourth participation in CAN, after South Africa, in 2013, Equatorial Guinea, in 2015, and Cameroon, in 2021.
The list of 26 called up
– Goalkeepers: Josimar Dias ‘Vozinha’ (Trencin, Slovakia), Márcio da Rosa (Anadia, Portugal) and Dylan Silva (Sintrense, Portugal).
– Defenders: Ianique Tavares 'Stopira (Boavista da Praia), Roberto Lopes 'Pico' (Shamrock Rovers, Ireland), Edilson Borges 'Diney' (Al Bataeh, United Arab Emirates), Dylan Tavares (Bastia, France), Logan Costa ( Bastia, France), João Correia (Desportivo de Chaves, Portugal) and Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew, United States).
– Midfielders: Jamiro Monteiro (San Jose, United States), Kevin Pina (Krasnodar, Russia), Kenny Rocha (AEZ Zakakiou, Cyprus), Patrick Andrade (Qarabag, Azerbaijan), João Paulo Fernandes (Sheriff, Moldova), Carlos Fernandes' Cuca' (União de Leiria, Portugal), Leroy Duarte (Fortuna Sittard, Netherlands ) and Laros Duarte (Groningen, Netherlands ).
– Forwards: Ryan Mendes (Karagumruk, Turkey), Garry Rodrigues (Ankaragucu, Turkey), Djaniny Semedo (Al Fateh, Saudi Arabia), Willy Semedo (Omonia, Cyprus), Bebé (Rayo Vallecano, Spain), Jovane Cabral (Salernitana, Italy), Hélio Varela (Portimonense, Portugal) and Bryan Teixeira (Sturm Graz, Austria).
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Picture: © Elton Monteiro
