Cape Verde fan declares support for Corinthians before World Cup debut | OneFootball

Cape Verde marked their first World Cup appearance with a 0-0 draw against Spain at Estádio de Atlanta in the United States. Before kick-off, a Cape Verde supporter publicly declared his backing for Corinthians.

"My greetings to Corinthians fans, because I am a Corinthians supporter. I follow the Brasileiro, I am a fan of the Brasileiro and the Libertadores, I watch all of it. I am part of the Bando de Loucos," he told ESPN Brasil.

In Group H, with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to come, all four sides have one point. Cape Verde sit fourth on tiebreakers.

Home to roughly 530,000 people, the archipelago has deep historical and cultural links with Brazil, which helps explain football’s popularity there. President José Maria Neves has publicly backed Flamengo and Palmeiras, and head coach Pedro Leitão Brito visited Cruzeiro in recent months as part of World Cup preparations.

Brazilian television remains widely accessible in Cape Verde, with dramas, entertainment programmes and live sport broadcast for decades.

There is also a Corinthians namesake, Sport Club Corinthians de Cabo Verde, founded in 1984 in Santa Cruz on Santiago island. Inspired directly by Timão, it is among the country’s most traditional clubs.

It has collected regional and national honours, and the identification runs beyond the name and colours. The ties reflect Brazil’s long-standing cultural and sporting influence in Cape Verde.

Another link sits in goal. In July 2024, Hugo Souza left Chaves at the end of his loan and returned to Flamengo before signing for Corinthians. Chaves then signed Vozinha, Cape Verde’s goalkeeper and one of the standouts against Spain, from A.S. Trenčín to be first choice.

Source: Meu Timao