Cape Verde must not be overlooked in the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) as the island team enters the tournament for the first time, according to forward Sandra Martins.
The team only began competing in 2018 and missed qualifying for the 2020 Wafcon, which was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the 2022 finals.
However, they secured their place in this year’s tournament in Morocco after defeating Guinea 6-3 on aggregate and upsetting Mali in the qualifiers.
Cape Verde is set to take on Ghana in their Group D opener on Tuesday at 17:00 GMT, followed by matches against Mali and Cameroon.
“I believe we can perform better than what people expect from newcomers,” Martins told BBC Sport Africa. “Our goal is to win two matches and possibly advance to the quarter-finals. If everyone dedicates themselves and we work as a team, we have a good chance of progressing further.”
The tournament also serves as a pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the four semi-finalists earning spots in Brazil. The four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will vie for two spots in an intercontinental playoff in Morocco.
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Delay Becomes an Advantage for the Blue Sharks
This year’s Wafcon was originally scheduled for March but was postponed just 12 days before the opening match. The Confederation of African Football stated that the change, despite facing criticism, was made to “ensure the success” of the tournament.
Martins views the rescheduling as a potential blessing for Cape Verde, currently ranked 120th in the world—one of the four lowest-ranked teams competing in North Africa. “We talked as a team and realized we needed more time to prepare,” said the 26-year-old.
“We played friendly matches against Ivory Coast, which were invaluable. We worked on various strategies, integrated some new teammates, and the extra time together has helped us build better on-field chemistry.”
Achieving an International Ambition
Sandra Martins has netted four goals in 17 appearances this season for London Bees, competing in England’s fourth tier [London Bees/Kieran Falcon]
Martins has had a long journey to international football. Born in Portugal to Cape Verdean parents, she started playing football at age six and moved to the UK when she was 15.
Her senior career features stints at Leeds United, AFC Wimbledon, Dorking Wanderers, and Charlottesville Blues in the USA, before joining London Bees in July of last year.
Although she grew up speaking Portuguese and Creole, she always aspired to represent Cape Verde. “The dream was to play internationally, but the path wasn’t always clear,” she recalled. “I focused on improving my performance each season.”
After participating in a friendly tournament, Martins caught the attention of the Cape Verdean football federation’s technical director, who was looking to recruit players from the diaspora.
“I felt an instant connection when I joined the team. Meeting the girls was surprisingly easy. I introduced myself and joked about my accent, which they found amusing. They were warm and welcoming, and we laughed together immediately.”
Becoming Part of the Cape Verde ‘Sisterhood’
Martins earned her first international cap during the Wafcon qualifier’s first leg against Mali last October, which ended in a 1-0 defeat in Praia. She traveled to Bamako for the second leg but had to miss a thrilling match due to an illness, during which the Blue Sharks triumphed 4-2 after a floodlight failure.
“The excitement when the final whistle blew was incredible,” she reflected. “Everyone was overjoyed, celebrating our accomplishment. A genuine sisterhood formed among us.”
Upon returning to Praia, many locals gathered at the airport to celebrate their achievement.
This year is pivotal for football in the Cape Verde archipelago, as the men’s team made their FIFA World Cup debut, capturing the hearts of many by reaching the last 32 and putting up a tough fight against defending champions Argentina, losing narrowly 3-2 after extra time.
Martins believes that the Wafcon debut can help further popularize women’s football in Cape Verde. “The interest in women’s football has certainly increased,” she noted. “We’ve gained momentum from the men’s qualification. The country rallies around any successful sports event, and support on social media has been overwhelming. I hope fans will come out to cheer for us in Morocco, but even if they can’t be there, I’m confident their energy will be with us in spirit.”