João de Deus credited for role in Cabo Verde’s 2026 World Cup breakthrough | OneFootball

João de Deus, Jorge Jesus’s right-hand at Flamengo, has been credited with a key role in Cabo Verde’s historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, having coached the team from 2008 to 2010 and set out a development plan. The federation president has said his input was important to the achievement.

Alongside Jesus at Flamengo he won the Libertadores, Brasileirão, Carioca, Recopa and Supercopa. He is currently out of work following Jesus’s departure from Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

“I am very pleased to see the country achieve the success it deserves and that people have worked for. Just being at the World Cup is already an incredible feat. Now I am in the phase of enjoying what Cabo Verde will do,” he told GE.

“I hope everyone who follows Cabo Verde, from players to coaches, can enjoy it as I will.”

Deus plans to follow Cabo Verde’s matches closely at the tournament. The team are in Group H with Uruguay, featuring Arrascaeta, plus Saudi Arabia and Spain, the country where the pair worked until last month.

Source: Coluna Do Fla