International Football
Turmoil in Cape Verde team !
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Ahead of a potentially explosive World Cup qualifying match with Nigeria, there is already confusion in the Cape Verdean camp as a key striker, Ricardo Gomes has annoyingly left the camp on the eve of the match with Nigeria.
His action has left the Cape Verde camp in turmoil with the head coach, Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito boiling that that the striker’s decision on the eve of Nigeria’s match is “disrespectful to the Cape Verdean nation”.
The player, Sports Village Square gathered from local publication, A Nação, remarked on social networks that the reasons that led him to take that attitude was that “it was clear that my help at the moment is unnecessary”.
But the coach saw it differently remarking that: “It was a total disrespect for the technical team, the doctor, the colleagues and the country itself,” Bubista told Radio Carbo Verde.
The player player who features for Serbian side, Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) suddenly parked out of the team’s hotel.
In a statement, the Cape Verdean Football Federation indicated that the referred footballer, after his integration in the national team stage, in Douala (Cameroon), informed the medical team and the technical team that he was injured, having undergone conditioning training, in the only training he was present before the first game.
Likewise, Ricardo Gomes, said the same source, informed the medical and technical staff that he would not be in physical condition to participate in the match, not even to be included in the match sheet as a substitute for the match with the Central African Republic , of the 1st of September.
The FCF explained that already in São Vicente, in training on Saturday (4), during the second training session of the Tubarões Azuis, in Mindelo, given that the player would still be recovering from his injury, the technical department and the medical department understood that there should be a gradual integration of the player, in the training sessions, with the one on Saturday having a component of rotating participation of the 26 players called up.
On that same day, explained the FCF, Ricardo Gomes decided to leave the hotel where the internship of Tubarões Azuis is taking place.
Ricardo Gomes on social media
“(…) For those who know Serbia’s trips to Cape Verde or another African country where our team plays have a long duration (…), however, during these years I have always honored the calls, even in situations where professionally it would be advisable to refuse or temporarily abdicate from our selection, putting our selection above my personal and professional ambitions (…)”.
However, continues the player, “(…) today (04.09.2021) after the collective training for the match against the Nigerian national team, it was clear that my help at the moment is unnecessary, since, despite the long journey made since Serbia, it was clear that for the technical team I do not count for the first or second team”.
“It should be noted that in the aforementioned training, two teams were made and I was left out of the two. Now, taking into account my age and all the constraints with traveling to represent our team, I understand that not being part of the choice of our team’s technical team, it makes no sense to continue to be part of our team (…) ”.
But on Radio Cape Verde, the national coach said he has nothing against the striker, nor with any other player and that when a player leaves a team it is for “lack of team spirit and commitment”.
The FCF has already said goodbye to the footballer with a desire for “good luck” in his professional and personal journey.
Ricardo Gomes, 29, has been used in 16 games and scored four goals for the Cape Verde national team.
Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.
The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.
The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.
With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.
Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.
CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.
Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.
Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.
-Reuters
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Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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