Cape Verde Islands (Group B)
The smallest nation ever to qualify for a Nations Cup finals are back for a second successive appearance, looking firmly like they belong in élite company. They played beyond expectations in 2013 to get to the quarter-finals, highlighted by their coach breaking into song at the press conference after advancing from the first round. Luis Antunes has since moved on but the Cape Verdians have got even stronger. They were credible performers in the World Cup qualifiers and finished top of their 2015 Nations Cup qualifying group, winning four of their six games.
COACH
The 54-year-old Rui Águas played extensively and scored liberally for Benfica and Porto, appearing in the 1988 European Cup Final, which Benfica lost to PSV. His first foray into management was with Estoril and Vitória Setúbal, but he then worked as an assistant to Jesualdo Ferreira at Braga and with Artur Jorge when he was Portugal coach. Cape Verde is his first job as a senior coach in almost a decade. His job application was helped by the fact that his wife is from the islands.
KEY PLAYERS
Babanco is the pivot of the 4-3-3 that Águas used in the qualifiers, with Héldon and Zé Luis as the key attackers. All of the squad now come from outside Cape Verde. Most are from European clubs, although several are based in Angola, such as goalkeeper Vozinha and defensive midfielder Calu. At least half of the squad from the 2013 Nations Cup should return.
LIKELY STARTING XI (4-3-3):
Vozinha - Carlitos, Fernando Varela, Gege, Nivaldo - Calu, Babanco, Odair Fortes - Zé Luis, Héldon, Djaniny.
COACH
The 54-year-old Rui Águas played extensively and scored liberally for Benfica and Porto, appearing in the 1988 European Cup Final, which Benfica lost to PSV. His first foray into management was with Estoril and Vitória Setúbal, but he then worked as an assistant to Jesualdo Ferreira at Braga and with Artur Jorge when he was Portugal coach. Cape Verde is his first job as a senior coach in almost a decade. His job application was helped by the fact that his wife is from the islands.
KEY PLAYERS
Babanco is the pivot of the 4-3-3 that Águas used in the qualifiers, with Héldon and Zé Luis as the key attackers. All of the squad now come from outside Cape Verde. Most are from European clubs, although several are based in Angola, such as goalkeeper Vozinha and defensive midfielder Calu. At least half of the squad from the 2013 Nations Cup should return.
LIKELY STARTING XI (4-3-3):
Vozinha - Carlitos, Fernando Varela, Gege, Nivaldo - Calu, Babanco, Odair Fortes - Zé Luis, Héldon, Djaniny.
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