Cape Verde rounded off their preparations for a historic first FIFA World Cup appearance with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bermuda at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday.
The Blue Sharks produced another assured display as goals from Willy Semedo, Garry Rodrigues and Nuno da Costa secured a second consecutive 3-0 win during their pre-tournament warm-up campaign.
Semedo opened the scoring in the first half before veteran forward Rodrigues doubled Cape Verde’s advantage after the break. Da Costa then completed the scoring in the second half as the African side maintained their impressive momentum ahead of the tournament.
The result follows another emphatic 3-0 victory over Serbia in their penultimate friendly last month, underlining the confidence within the squad as they prepare to make their World Cup debut.
Cape Verde are among the tournament’s most compelling stories after qualifying for the global showpiece for the first time in their history. The island nation has steadily emerged as one of Africa’s rising forces in recent years, building a competitive squad that combines experienced internationals with talent drawn from across Europe.
The Blue Sharks now turn their attention to a challenging Group H campaign, where they will face Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Spain are expected to enter the group as favourites, while two-time world champions Uruguay will also be strongly fancied to reach the knockout stages. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, arrive with a growing reputation after several impressive performances on the international stage in recent years.
However, Cape Verde’s recent form suggests they could prove difficult opponents. Consecutive 3-0 victories over Serbia and Bermuda have demonstrated both attacking efficiency and defensive solidity at a crucial stage of their preparations.
With confidence high and history awaiting, the Blue Sharks will head into their maiden World Cup campaign hoping to make an impact on the biggest stage in international football.
