When Cape Verde step onto pitch for their first-ever FIFA World Cup match against Spain for Atlanta, Steven Moreira mind no go immediately dey di reigning European champions wey stand opposite am. Instead, e go drift towards di stands where im family go dey watch moment wey once seem unimaginable.
For di 31-year-old defender, Cape Verde historic appearance at FIFA World Cup 2026 na more dan football achievement. Na di culmination of journey wey begin with years of persuasion from determined football federation, family uncertainty and decision wey transform im international career.
As one of di leaders of team wey dey prepare to make history, Moreira represent di wider story of nation wey steadily rise from underdog status to earn place for football grandest stage. Di path no always straightforward.
Born for France and don represent France at youth level, Moreira first approach by Cape Verde when e still be teenager. Despite di persistence of coaches, officials and even players, di timing never feel right. Di interest start very early, when I be about 18 or 19, e recall. Dem keep sending me messages, calling me and speaking to some of my family and friends.
Years later, after move to Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew, im outlook begin change. E say di timing feel right when I move to Columbus. Dem still dey there, sending messages, calling me, checking in and making sure everything dey go well. Even my future international team-mates dey reach out. Then one day, I decide to accept.
Di decision carry emotional significance, particularly within im own family. Im mother, wey born for Cape Verde, initially get reservations about im decision to represent di island nation. When I be very young, I go visit Cabo Verde and back then, my mother feel di country no safe. So when I tell am I go accept di call-up, she dey a bit apprehensive. She tink something bad fit happen – dat na mothers for you, no be so?
Dose concerns quickly disappear. When I get my first call-up, di whole family start ringing her. Den she say, I already tell you say you for don go, di defender joke.
Since make im debut against Algeria for October 2023, Moreira don become part of one of di most remarkable stories for African football. Cape Verde qualification for di World Cup represent historic breakthrough for di island nation. Di achievement secure after memorable qualifying campaign wey include dramatic moments, none more dan thrilling draw against Libya wey almost produce unforgettable comeback victory.
For moments like dat, you tink, dis na di dream wey we want to make come true. And den e feel as though dat dream don take away from you, Moreira reflect. Di dream eventually become reality with decisive victory over Eswatini wey spark nationwide celebrations. After di final whistle, there be pitch invasion – everybody dey jump, dance and celebrate, e recall. At dat time, I no tink we fully appreciate di scale of wetin we achieve.
For Moreira, di significance extend beyond football. We dey put Cabo Verde on di map, e say. People go fit visit, get to know di islands and discover more about dem. Dat change everything too.
Now di Blue Sharks face dia greatest challenge yet for group wey include Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Yet no sense of intimidation inside di camp. We want to get through di group stage, Moreira insist. We no dey go di World Cup just to make up di numbers; we dey there to compete.
Dat confidence also apply to di individual battles wey dey await am against some of football biggest names. When I dey play for France and come up against PSG, e be di same thing. Kylian Mbappe, Neymar … e no be new to me, e maintain. I don trust myself and play with confidence.
Di defender believe Cape Verde go also draw support from beyond Africa, particularly from Portuguese-speaking communities around di world. There be cultural connection. We speak di same language and we like attacking football – having di ball and bringing joy to di fans, wey be something special. A friend of mine wey play for Brazil don already tell me say we go get plenty support from di Brazilian people.
As Cape Verde prepare to enter uncharted territory, Moreira story mirror dat of di nation wey e now proudly represent. Wetin begin as hesitant decision don evolve into di biggest moment of im career. My dad, my brother, my cousins … everybody dey so proud, Moreira explain. Now with di World Cup, e bigger dan ever. I tink e be di biggest moment of my career.
And when Cape Verde anthem echo around Atlanta, di defender wey once hesitate to answer di call go stand at di heart of moment wey don already change im life – and di history of Cape Verdean football forever.
Di Blue Sharks of Cape Verde dey enter di 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of di tournament ultimate fairy-tale stories, making dia historic debut after stunningly top dia qualifying group ahead of African powerhouse Cameroon. Managed by Bubista, di tiny Atlantic archipelago nation of just 600,000 people rely on balanced blend of veteran grit and emerging youth.
Di squad anchor by 40-year-old historic goalkeeper Vozinha and 36-year-old captain Ryan Mendes, di nation all-time leading goalscorer wey remain dia emotional and attacking reference point. Alongside dese veterans, Villarreal commanding center-back Logan Costa provide elite technical composure for defense, while 25-year-old forward Dailon Livramento – wey lead di team with four goals for qualifying – supply di electric pace and clinical finishing wey need to threaten Group H heavyweights Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
