WAFCON: Rui Costa is the architect behind Cape Verde’s meteoric rise

WAFCON: Rui Costa is the architect behind Cape Verde’s meteoric rise Cape Verde is a footballing nation that’s on the rise. Fresh from making history at their first men’s World Cup, the Cape Verde’s women’s side broke new ground on Wednesday as they made their WAFCON debut. Whilst a 2-0 defeat against Ghana wasn’t the fairytale start they were hoping for, it was another sizeable milestone in the story of Cape Verdean football. The journey to Morocco 2026 hasn’t happened by chance, however. It’s the product of a long process that is starting to yield tangible results for the Blue Sharks. The man responsible for overseeing this plan, and much more, is Rui Costa, the national technical director of the Cape Verde Football Federation. Rui Costa’s many roles Costa might well be the hardest-working person in show business. “My role covers coach education, talent development, youth football, women’s football, and the implementation of long-term technical projects in close collaboration with FIFA, CAF, and other international partners,” he tells me. His all-encompassing role also includes “ensuring that our player development pathway is aligned with a clear football philosophy and a sustainable vision for the future.” Leaving Cape Verde By his own admission, the role is more than a point of professional pride. It’s the culmination of a dream. Costa’s journey reflects that of many of the national team players. Leaving the country to pursue increased opportunities before returning home to put those experiences into practice. “I spent many years in England, where I built my entire coaching career. England gave me the opportunity to become the coach and person I am today. Every morning, I genuinely say, ‘Thank you, England.’ The experiences, the people, and the football culture shaped me professionally and personally. I learned an incredible amount from English football, and I will always be grateful to the English Football Association, the clubs I worked with, and everyone who contributed to my journey.” Among the experiences in England, futsal has played a huge part in Costa’s philosophy. He says, “It demands attention to detail, tactical understanding, and methodology — qualities that have made me a better football coach.” He has now come full circle by returning home to Cape Verde. “I’m incredibly proud of my heritage. My parents are from Cape Verde, my wife is Cape Verdean, I hold Cape Verdean nationality, and so do my children. Representing the country isn’t simply a job for me — it’s deeply personal.” He’s quick to pay tribute to his wife, who he describes as having been “instrumental” in his career to date. For now, his focus is firmly fixed on Cape Verde’s WAFCON debut against Ghana on Wednesday. Image courtesy of Cabo Verde FA Successes at home and abroad But what has changed to allow this tiny archipelago to compete with Africa’s best? One of the biggest factors has been the federation’s decision to lean into Cape Verde’s greatest strengths, namely the diaspora. “We identified talented players with Cape Verdean heritage playing across Portugal, England, Spain, Poland, Australia and other countries. We worked hard to establish relationships with them, explain our vision, and integrate them into the national team.” That doesn’t tell the full story, however. Domestically, things are falling into place. “Around half of our squad began their football journey in Cape Verde before progressing to clubs abroad, including FC Porto, Benfica, Braga, Vitória de Guimarães and, more recently, Beşiktaş. That shows that local football continues to produce talented players capable of competing internationally.” Football as a force for good Cape Verde already has plans in place to build on its recent progress. “Looking ahead, we’re implementing an ambitious four-year technical development strategy for women’s and youth football. My technical department is working to create sustainable structures that will strengthen every stage of the player pathway, from grassroots participation through to elite performance.” Turning specifically to the women’s game, Rui says it is “receiving more attention than ever before” in the country. “More importantly, we’re developing a comprehensive strategic plan for women’s football that will strengthen domestic competitions, improve coaching standards, increase participation and create better opportunities for young girls across the country.” The plan is indeed an ambitious one. It doesn’t just focus on the footballer. It also considers the person behind the player and how they can affect society as a whole. “Not every girl will become a professional footballer, but every girl will grow into a leader within her family and community — whether as a mother, an aunt, a teacher or in another important role. If football can help shape confident, educated and empowered women, then we’ve already achieved something incredibly valuable.” Setting the standard domestically As with any successful national team, a strong, stable domestic ecosystem is vital to the game’s long-term growth. Unsurprisingly, there’s a plan in place for this, too. It could eventually allow Cape Verdean clubs to compete with their African counterparts in the recently created Women’s African Champions League. “One of our biggest priorities is implementing a robust Club Licensing System,” Costa explains. He adds, “This is a major long-term project involving the Football Federation, the Government, FIFA and CAF. Club licensing requires clubs to meet rigorous standards in areas such as governance, youth development, infrastructure, administration, finance and sporting performance.” Costa believes the project can create a virtuous cycle: “By strengthening clubs, we strengthen the entire football ecosystem. Stronger clubs create better players, better coaches and ultimately stronger national teams.” Building for the future Cape Verdean football has reached unprecedented heights in recent years, and Costa is confident that more will follow. “We’re building sustainable foundations rather than looking for quick successes, and we’re confident that the work we’re doing today will produce lasting results for generations to come.” “We firmly believe that the next four years will represent a significant period of growth for women’s football in Cape Verde.” With the energy already surrounding them, who would bet against the Blue Sharks making a splash in Morocco? 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