Pedro Miguel Cardoso Monteiro — the former Cape Verde defender widely known as Pele — believes his country's eye-catching performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have proven that the Blue Sharks can hold their own against the continent's finest.

Cape Verde arrived at their debut World Cup as heavy underdogs in Group H, drawn alongside former champions Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia. Few gave them a realistic chance of surviving the group, let alone making an impression.

Yet the Blue Sharks have been one of the tournament's standout stories. They held Spain to a goalless draw and then matched Uruguay in a 2-2 thriller, leaving them with a genuine opportunity to advance to the round of 32 — provided they defeat Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Confidence for AFCON

Pele, who represented Cape Verde between 2006 and 2009, says the performances have shifted expectations for what the island nation can achieve at continental level. Cape Verde's best run at the Africa Cup of Nations was reaching the quarterfinals at the 2013 and 2023 editions.