"Turning out for Cape Verde throughout this qualification cycle has been 33-year-old defender Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, whose broad Irish accent is somewhat out of place in CAF competition. The Shamrock Rovers' skipper was born in the Dublin suburb of Crumlin to an Irish mother and Cape Verdean father, representing the Republic of Ireland as a youth international some 15 years ago. Roberto Lopes, left, and Garry Rodrigues of Cape Verde celebrate their side's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)"
"Despite never having visited Cape Verde and spending the entirety of his club career in the League of Ireland, 'Pico' was named in the Cape Verdean squad for the first time in 2019. The call-up to the Cape Verde national team came as a surprise to many, but it was the result of a concerted effort by the footballing authorities on the island tracking down and recruiting players of Cape Verdean descent from around the world."
Cape Verde topped Group D in CAF qualifying to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, edging out Cameroon during the October 2025 international break. The nation has about 525,000 people, making it the second-least populous country to qualify for the Finals after Iceland. Defender Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, a 33-year-old Shamrock Rovers captain born in Dublin to an Irish mother and Cape Verdean father, played throughout the campaign. Lopes represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level around 15 years ago and was first called into the Cape Verde squad in 2019. Cape Verdean football authorities actively recruited diaspora players.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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