Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
IN a story titled “Population vs Planning: How Cape Verde built a World Cup blueprint Africa cannot ignore”, the Premium Times of Nigeria wrote an interesting analysis that captures the tiny island’s meticulous football strategy.
Cape Verde wrote probably the biggest fairytale of the 2026 World Cup, thanks to their gallant show, which saw them battle defending champions Argentina for 120 minutes before losing 3-2 in the Round of 32.
“Cape Verde arrived at the World Cup with barely half a million people and no history of global football power.
“By the time Argentina survived them after 111 minutes, the Blue Sharks had offered Africa something larger than an upset: a lesson in planning, identity and belief,” wrote the Premium Times. They added: “Modern international football is no longer shaped solely by geography; it is increasingly shaped by networks.
“For Cape Verde, one of the most important of those networks stretches far across its global diaspora.” Half of Cape Verde’s squad was born abroad, mainly in Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and the US. The country recognised its migratory communities, especially those players raised and developed in top European academies. Those players remained connected to their parent country and were integrated into the system.
“The Cape Verde football federation’s task was not simply to identify eligible footballers but convince them that representing Cape Verde was a primary choice,” wrote the Premium Times.
It’s a sentiment that is also shared by former Zimbabwe midfielder Memory Mucherahowa, who strongly believes the Southern African nation can draw vital lessons from the Cape Verde case study. Mucherahowa, the most successful club captain in Zimbabwean football history, having led Dynamos to the 1998 CAF Champions League final, is now based in the United Kingdom. The UK has become home to millions of Zimbabwean immigrants.
There are also thousands of Zimbabweans living across Europe.
Mucherahowa wants ZIFA to emulate Cape Verde and walk the talk when it comes to convincing players of Zimbabwean origin to represent their motherland.
ZIFA, under the leadership of Nqobile Magwizi, who is currently in the US for the World Cup finals, have already launched a programme aimed at tapping talent in the diaspora.
Titled “Roots & Dreams: A Conversation with ZIFA”, the ambitious programme was launched in 2025 and saw Magwizi tour the UK to interact with players based in that country.
Interim Warriors coach Kaitano Tembo has also indicated that he is monitoring hundreds of players in the diaspora.
However, Mucherahowa wants ZIFA to catch the players at a young age and not wait to approach them when they have several choices.
“We have good players here like Trey Nyoni of Liverpool, I believe he is Zimbabwean, but he is not keen to play for Zimbabwe, because he is hoping to play for England one day.
“But I am saying if these kids were to be incorporated into the system at a young age, I am sure players like Nyoni would have loved to play for Zimbabwe.
“They need to feel that they belong to Zimbabwe from an early age.
“What Cape Verde have done is a lesson that these youngsters need to be integrated at an early stage. Cape Verde are an example of how to tap talent in the diaspora.
ZIFA have to be more organised and motivate the young players to play for Zimbabwe.
“There is a lot of talent here in the UK. Yes, some might say they are favoured, but the truth is this side players have proper training facilities and highly-qualified coaches,” said the former Dynamos skipper. Mucherahowa has been following the 2026 World Cup and was disappointed when England fell 2-1 against Argentina in the semi-final on Wednesday night. He thought this was the perfect opportunity for the Three Lions to lift the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
But he was happy with the progress made by some African nations, especially Morocco, who reached the last eight before falling to former champions France.
“Africa is moving, and I feel we (Zimbabwe) are being left behind.
Morocco are moving in the right direction, although they did not reach the semis like in 2022. Spain have also shown us what consistency and patience can reap. Most of their players played together from the national youth teams,” said Mucherahowa.
