CAPE VERDE
One of the continent’s smallest nations, with a population of around 500,000, continue to punch well above their weight, albeit with most of their players drawn from the large emigrant communities in the Netherlands, Portugal and the USA.
This is the third time they have qualified, having reached the quarter-finals in their maiden appearance in 2013, when their coach burst into song at the post-match press conference, and again in 2015, when they went home undefeated.
They qualified for these finals by finishing unbeaten, beating Cameroon 3-1 in Praia and holding them to a goalless draw away from home.
KEY PLAYER
Speedy winger Ryan Mendes,
31, will captain the team as their most experienced and valuable player, having competed for the Cape Verdeans at their last two Cup of Nations finals appearances following his national team debut back in 2010.
THE COACH
The 51-year-old Pedro Leitao
Brito is better known as “Bubista” and spent 14 years as a defender in the Cape Verde team, serving as captain before embarking on a coaching career with a bevy of local teams and then getting the national team job two years ago.