Cape Verde should not be underestimated at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) as the islanders make their tournament debut, forward Sandra Martins has warned.
The side only played their first match in 2018 and did not enter qualifiers for the 2020 Wafcon, which was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, or the 2022 finals.
But they beat Guinea 6-3 on aggregate before upsetting Mali in qualification to book their place at this year’s edition in Morocco.
Cape Verde face Ghana in their Group D opener on Tuesday (17:00 GMT) before matches against Mali and Cameroon.
“I think we would do well, probably better than what people would think as new participants,” Martins told BBC Sport Africa.
“We are aiming to win two games [and] possibly go into the quarter-finals.
“I think if everyone applies themselves and we really work together, we could stand a chance of going to the next stage.”
Places at the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup are also on the line, with the four semi-finalists booking their tickets to Brazil.
The four losing quarter-finalists will also play off in Morocco for two spots at an intercontinental qualifier.
