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Bubista praises Cape Verde despite World Cup elimination
04th July, 2026 10:52 AM
Cape Verde head coach Pedro Leitão Brito, aka Bubista has expressed immense pride in his Cabo Verde squad after their memorable FIFA World Cup campaign came to an emotional end with a 3-2 extra-time defeat to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32 on Saturday, July 4,2026.
The African newcomers produced a spirited display, fighting back twice during the contest, once in normal time and again in extra time, before an unfortunate own goal in the 111th minute sealed their elimination and brought their fairytale tournament to a close.
Speaking after the match, the Cabo Verde head coach applauded his players for their fearless performance.
“First of all, I feel enormous pride in my players and what they did,” Bubista told a post-match news conference. “They played with dignity and courage. I also want to congratulate our opponent because they showed why they are world champions.”
“We knew how difficult this match would be because of Argentina’s quality, but I believe we did our best and played with bravery. We never stopped being true to our identity, and that’s why I’m so proud of this team. I don’t think many teams could score twice against Argentina and take them to extra time. Coming back to equalize twice showed our character and spirit.” He said.
Making history
Despite exiting the competition, Cabo Verde made history during its first-ever World Cup appearance. With a population of just over 500,000, the island nation became the smallest country ever to qualify for the tournament’s knockout rounds.
Their impressive journey began with a goalless draw against European champions Spain before further draws against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia secured a place in the last 32.
Reflecting on the campaign, Bubista insisted his team had given the nation plenty to celebrate.
“We can leave this tournament proud of what we achieved,” Bubista said. “These performances will go down in our country’s history.
“For nations like ours, where qualifying for a World Cup is already difficult, we’ve shown that with organization, character and focus, it is possible to achieve great things.”
The coach also highlighted how his inexperienced squad stood toe-to-toe with one of football’s biggest powers.
“We wanted to compete with the best teams on equal terms. We arrived here with little experience, and experience often makes the difference, but we were able to play 120 minutes against Argentina and create chances in their penalty area.
“Everyone should thank these players for what they did. More than just playing football, they showed what our country is all about.”
Bubista described the tournament as an important milestone for football in Cabo Verde, while cautioning against placing his team among the world’s elite just yet.
“We are experiencing the growing pains of a team playing in this tournament for the first time,” Bubista said. “I don’t think we have earned the status of being among the world’s best teams. We still have a long road ahead before we can consistently compete with them.
“But we showed in most of our matches that we can challenge some of the best teams in the world. It’s also a good opportunity to thank our fans, who supported us with so much enthusiasm and passion throughout the tournament.
“We may be a small country, but we showed we can compete against the best.”
Respect to Argentina
He also paid tribute to Argentina, praising Lionel Scaloni’s side for demonstrating the qualities that have made them reigning world champions.
“Argentina is always among the favorites to win the World Cup because of its history, the way it plays and the players it has,” the head coach said.
“Seeing the stadium almost full of Argentine supporters also showed the size of this team and its football tradition. Even after we equalized, their fans kept pushing them forward. We are grateful for the opportunity to play against the world champions. We showed our resilience for 120 minutes against one of the giants of world football.”
The emotional impact of the defeat was evident inside Cabo Verde’s dressing room, where players struggled to come to terms with narrowly missing out on a famous upset.
“The feeling in the dressing room is one of sadness. We’re disappointed because we’re leaving the tournament and because we came so close,” he said.
“But the players should also be proud of what they achieved representing our country. They were hugging each other and crying, and that’s part of growing. It shows this team has a soul, and we are very proud of them.” He said.
Cape Verde joined DR Congo, Ghana, Algeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast and Senegal as the African sides out of the World Cup 2026 at the Round of 32 stage.
