World Cup (Q): Cape Verde coach Bubista- No changes for Eswatini game

The Cape Verde national team are on the verge of a historical first-ever qualification for the World Cup and the Blue Sharks are attempting to remain calm ahead of Monday’s crunch match against Eswatini.

The island nation have the opportunity to secure qualification in front of their home supporters in Praia, where a victory will be enough to finish top of Group D. Head coach Bubista indicated that he and his staff have been preparing for potential nervousness in training, with the objective of scoring the first goal to relieve the high pressure.

According to Cape Verdean outlet Inforpress, Bubista stated that there will be no changes to the squad or tactics for the match. The possibility remains that there may be one or two alterations to the personnel used. Veteran leader Ryan Mendes came on at halftime in Cape Verde’s 3-3 draw against Libya while forward Willy Semedo came on as a substitute to score the equalizer.

As far as the midfield and defense, it appears that Bubista will continue to rely on his veteran players. Midfielder Kevin Pina spoke to the press after the Libya game and also acknowledged the massive stakes of Monday’s clash:

“Playing at home and with the possibility of making history gives us even more strength. We will fight for Cape Verde and for the victory everyone desires.”

Demand for tickets has been massive with supporters protesting the difficulty of acquiring a seat at the Estádio Nacional in Praia. Tickets sold out rapidly and there was discontent that seats in the covered central stand were sold without being publicly released, with numerous tickets popping up on the black market for upscaled fees.

The Cape Verdean Football Federation has taken steps to address the issues. After a crucial 1-0 victory over Cameroon in September, supporters stormed the pitch to celebrate which resulted in a fine to the federation amounting to a little under $6,000.

For now though, the focus remains on finishing the job in the Blue Sharks camp with last place Eswatini the only obstacle between the hosts and a historic achievement in the island nation’s history.