Cape Verde launched their historic maiden FIFA World Cup campaign preparations in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 3-0 friendly victory against Serbia at Lisbon’s Estádio Nacional on Sunday evening. The island nation, set to make their World Cup debut in the expanded 48-team tournament this summer, delivered a performance that combined defensive solidity with ruthless attacking efficiency, sending an early signal of their intent. For Cape Verde, every step toward the June 15 kickoff represents uncharted territory, and this result provided a tangible dose of confidence.
The match opened with Serbia dominating possession — they would finish with 61% of the ball — but it was Cape Verde who struck first in the 11th minute. Krasnodar forward Kevin Pina capitalized on a precise delivery from veteran winger Ryan Mendes, the former Le Havre and Lille man, to slot home the opener. The goal exemplified Cape Verde’s tactical discipline: absorb pressure and exploit transitions with speed and precision. Despite Serbia’s territorial control, the Blue Sharks’ defensive organization largely limited clear-cut chances.
The second half saw Cape Verde extend their lead with a pair of quick-fire goals shortly after the hour mark. Substitute Laros Duarte, who plays for Puskás Akadémia in Hungary, proved to be the catalyst. In the 59th minute, Duarte found the net himself, doubling the advantage. Then, just four minutes later, he turned provider, setting up Benchimol for the third goal. The two-goal burst in the space of 240 seconds effectively killed the contest and underscored Cape Verde’s ability to punish opponents with clinical flurries.
It must be noted that Serbia fielded a significantly weakened side for this friendly. Head coach Dragan Stojković opted to rest several key regulars, including striker Dušan Vlahović, goalkeeper Mile Svilar, and the Milinković-Savić brothers — Sergej and Vanja. With the Serbian domestic season having just concluded for many players, the decision to leave these stars out of the tour, which concludes against Mexico in Toluca on June 5, was precautionary. As such, Cape Verde’s victory, while commanding, came against a Serbian outfit far from full strength. Nevertheless, the psychological boost from a 3-0 scoreline against a European nation with World Cup pedigree cannot be dismissed.
For Cape Verde, the performance will be scrutinized through the lens of their daunting World Cup group. The Blue Sharks open the tournament against Spain on June 15 in Atlanta — a colossal task against one of the favorites. That is followed by dates with Uruguay in Miami on June 22 and Saudi Arabia in Houston on June 27. A win over Serbia, even an understrength one, suggests that Cape Verde are not simply happy to be participants; they are engineering a platform to compete. The defensive resilience and counter-attacking threat shown in Lisbon could be a blueprint for frustrating more illustrious opponents.
The friendly served as a vital exercise in cohesion for a squad drawn from clubs across the globe. Cape Verde’s roster blends European-based professionals with players from Asia and the Americas, and the disjointed nature of international windows often leaves little time to forge chemistry. The performance against Serbia indicated that the tactical framework installed by manager Bubista — a Cape Verdean football legend — is taking hold. The team’s shape without the ball was compact, and the transitions were swift, hallmarks of an underdog game plan designed to spring surprises.
Ryan Mendes’s assist for the opening goal was a reminder of his enduring quality. The 34-year-old captain, who plies his trade in Qatar with Al-Rayyan after spells in France, remains a talismanic figure. His vision and delivery from wide areas will be crucial if Cape Verde are to trouble Spain and Uruguay. Meanwhile, the impact of Duarte off the bench highlighted the depth that Bubista can call upon — a resource that will be tested across a compact tournament schedule where squad rotation is essential.
Looking ahead, Cape Verde have one more tune-up fixture: a meeting with Bermuda, ranked 166th by FIFA, on June 6 in East Hartford, Connecticut. That match provides a final opportunity to fine-tune tactics and manage minutes before the spotlight shifts to Atlanta. The Bermuda clash, against a lower-tier opponent, will likely see Bubista experiment with different combinations, but the core principles displayed against Serbia — defensive discipline and swift counters — are expected to remain constant.
The win in Lisbon also carries symbolic weight for Cape Verdean football. A nation of roughly half a million people, spread across an archipelago off the West African coast, has consistently punched above its weight, qualifying for multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Now, the World Cup stage beckons. The result against Serbia will resonate among the diaspora communities in the United States, where the tournament is co-hosted, and could galvanize support that transforms stadiums into de facto home venues.
In conclusion, Cape Verde’s 3-0 victory over Serbia was an ideal start to their World Cup preparation — a statement of intent, a confidence booster, and a practical test passed with flying colors. While the depleted nature of the Serbian squad tempers the scale of the achievement, the Blue Sharks can derive immense belief from the manner of the performance. As the countdown to their historic opener against Spain ticks down, the island nation dares to dream. Based on reporting from L'Equipe.