Cape Verde internationals Sidny Lopes Cabral and Vozinha have secured moves to new clubs following their performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) highlighted seven African stars who earned transfers after the tournament.
Sidny Lopes Cabral, the centre-back, left Benfica to join Turkish side Trabzonspor. His transfer comes after he scored a historic goal for the national team in their 3-1 group stage defeat to Argentina at the World Cup. That moment, along with the island nation's overall presence at the tournament, brought several players to the attention of the global football market. The move to the Süper Lig represents a new chapter for the player, who was on loan at Estoril the previous season.
The CAF shows that the 2026 World Cup served as an exceptional shop window for African talent. For Cape Verde, making their absolute debut on football's biggest stage was a historic milestone. The team, nicknamed the "Blue Sharks", not only qualified but made a positive impression, with Sidny being one of the standout performers. This international exposure appears to have been a key factor in sparking interest from foreign clubs. The transfer window that followed the tournament confirmed this trend, with several players finding new opportunities.
Vozinha, the experienced 40-year-old goalkeeper, is another example. After his contract with Greece's Apollon Smyrnis ended and he became a free agent, the Cape Verde international signed for Chilean giants Colo-Colo. His experience and leadership, demonstrated over caps and during the World Cup campaign, were highly valued. His move to South American football is seen as a significant step for the Chilean team as they look to solidify their goalkeeping position. This transfer shows the market values not only youth but also proven quality at the highest level of competition.
The phenomenon was not exclusive to Cape Verde. The CAF lists five other players from different African national teams who also changed clubs. Among them are 18-year-old Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi, who moved from Lille to Manchester City, and his compatriot Ismael Saibari, who swapped PSV Eindhoven for Bayern Munich. From Ivory Coast, winger Yan Diomande left RB Leipzig for Real Madrid. Egyptian Haissem Hassan, 24, went from Real Oviedo to Celtic, and Ghanaian Caleb Yirenkyi moved from Nordsjaelland to Coventry City. This collective movement highlights the growing recognition of African football among top clubs.
With the players now settling into their new clubs, the focus for the Cape Verde national team turns to upcoming fixtures. The team faces the challenges of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and other international friendlies that will build on the World Cup legacy. Maintaining competitiveness and integrating new talents will be essential. Fans can follow the full national team schedule on our fixtures page.
The summer 2026 transfer window has now closed, and these moves are official. Sidny Lopes Cabral has signed a three-year contract with Trabzonspor, running until June 2029.
