David Moreira has returned to the Cape Verde national team squad for key Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The 22-year-old left-back has been called up by selector Humberto Bettencourt for the double-header against Liberia on November 13 and 17. The team, which occupies first place in its qualifying group, prepares for its next official fixture on Saturday 11 November at home against the same Liberia.
His inclusion "is certain, barring any last-minute injury," the selector confirmed. Moreira has four caps for the Blue Sharks, with his last appearance coming in November of last year in friendlies against Iran and Egypt. He has not featured for the national side since. His return bolsters a team that enters these matches on a positive run of three wins and a draw in its last four official outings.
The call-up comes as Cape Verde prepares for a key double challenge. The Blue Sharks face Liberia at home on November 13 and play the return leg away four days later. These matches count towards qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The team's next official fixture is scheduled for November 11, 2026, also against Liberia at home, according to the fixtures schedule.
Moreira, a product of Sporting's academy who moved to Gil Vicente last summer, provides a solid option for the left side of defence. His international experience, though limited, and his youth are assets Bettencourt has chosen to recall for this decisive phase. The full-back's return comes after nearly a year out of the senior national team, bolstering the manager's defensive options for a concentrated period of matches. The national team now begins preparations for the November double-header, which could prove decisive for qualification.
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