Bubista hails team's identity after memorable campaign
Cabo Verde head coach Bubista said his country "showed their identity" during the FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign and expressed immense pride in his team's performance, despite not securing a win. The debutants drew with European champions Spain, Saudi Arabia, and former champions Uruguay to reach the round of 32, where they pushed Lionel Messi-led Argentina to extra time before losing 3-2.
Speaking after the match, as quoted by FIFA, Bubista stated, "We dignify what our country is. We drew twice against the world champions; we took it to extra time. More than anything, it is being proud of our players who were dignified in the World Cup. We showed our identity."
Match recap: Cabo Verde's brave fight against Argentina
Cabo Verde, making their first World Cup knockout appearance, started brightly and tested Argentina early through Ryan Mendes. Argentina gradually asserted control, and in the 29th minute, Messi produced a moment of quality, expertly controlling Lisandro Martinez's diagonal pass before firing into the roof of the net. The strike was his seventh goal of the tournament, taking him to the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Argentina looked comfortable before halftime, but Cabo Verde returned with renewed intensity after the break. Their persistence paid off just before the hour mark when Mendes released Deroy Duarte, who finished confidently from a tight angle to score his country's first-ever World Cup knockout-stage goal and level the contest.
Extra-time drama and own goal heartbreak
Despite creating several chances, Argentina were repeatedly denied by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, whose outstanding saves from Messi kept the scores level and forced the match into extra time. Argentina restored their advantage almost immediately after extra time began as Lisandro Martinez converted from close range following a corner in the 92nd minute. Yet Cabo Verde refused to back down, with Sidny Lopes Cabral producing a stunning curling effort in the 103rd minute from a tight angle to make it 2-2 once again.
The decisive moment came in the second half of extra time when Messi's corner was met by Romero, whose powerful header took a slight deflection off Diney Borges before finding the back of the net in the 111th minute. Cabo Verde nearly forced penalties late on, but Emiliano Martinez produced a vital save to deny Lopes Cabral's powerful free-kick and secure Argentina's progress.
Legacy of Cabo Verde's debut World Cup run
Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16, while Cabo Verde exit the tournament with widespread admiration after an impressive World Cup debut that saw them push the reigning champions to extra time. Bubista's side earned respect for their resilience, determination, and hard work, proving their success was more than just luck.
