{"id":34788,"date":"2026-05-18T18:49:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/?post_type=news&p=34788"},"modified":"2026-05-18T18:49:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:49:57","slug":"cape-verde-gamble-on-fitness-of-defender-costa","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/cape-verde-gamble-on-fitness-of-defender-costa\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape Verde gamble on fitness of defender Costa"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Cape Verde are taking a gamble on the fitness of centre back Logan Costa, naming him in their 26-man World Cup squad on Monday despite a long-term injury.<\/div>\n
The Paris-born defender ruptured his ACL in a pre-season friendly last July and only returned to action on Sunday, featuring as a late second-half substitute for Villarreal in their 2-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Costa\u2019s 13-minute LaLiga cameo, however, was enough to convince coach Bubista to include him with the 25-year-old widely regarded as his country\u2019s best player.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
There were no other surprises in the squad announcement as the coach stuck with the core of players who ensured a first World Cup appearance for one of Africa\u2019s smallest nations.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Cape Verde\u2019s population of some 600 000 makes them the third smallest country to compete at a World Cup, but their players are almost all drawn from the country\u2019s large diaspora.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Players born in France, Ireland, the Netherlands and former colonial power Portugal dominate the squad, while American-born goalkeeper Carlos dos Santos was picked as back-up to 39-year-old Vozinha. Dos Santos had previously been in the US squad and had a switch of allegiance approved by FIFA last week. He is the only uncapped player in the selection.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Cape Verde announced they will take on Serbia in a World Cup warm-up match in Lisbon on May 31 and Bermuda in East Hartford on June 6.<\/div>\n
\nThey play in Group H at the World Cup, starting with former winners Spain in Atlanta on June 15 before facing Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

–Reuters–<\/p><\/div>\n

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