The Catholic Bishop of Mindelo has praised Cape Verde's national football team for representing the country with "human dignity" and national values during its historic first FIFA World Cup campaign.
In a message issued after the Blue Sharks were knocked out of the tournament, Bishop Ildo Augusto dos Santos Lopes Fortes said the Church had followed the team's progress "with enthusiasm and emotion."
"We wish to commend not only the excellent results you achieved, but above all the way you brought honor to our nation," he said.
He praised the players for showing "talent, discipline, courage, team spirit and respect for your opponents," adding that sport demonstrates "nobility of attitude and greatness of character."
The bishop also commended the team's conduct off the pitch, saying: "From the national coach to the players, your statements were consistently marked by humility, serenity, respect, and love for our homeland."
He said the Blue Sharks had shown that "sport can also be a school of values and a privileged setting for bearing witness to human dignity."
Reflecting on the team's World Cup debut, he added: "Those who believed we would be insignificant in this competition were mistaken. We may be small in territory and population, but we are truly great in what matters most: our spirit, our courage, our dignity, and the values that define us as a people."
Cape Verde reached the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2026 and advanced beyond the group stage before losing 3-2 after extra time to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32.
