Cape Verde's World Cup qualification owed much to Flamengo's 2019 hero | OneFootball

João de Deus, Jorge Jesus’ assistant at Flamengo, was Cape Verde’s coach

Jorge Jesus’ ‘right-hand man’ at Jorge Jesus at Flamengo, João de Deus played a key role in Cape Verde’s historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Mister’s assistant coached the African team from 2008 to 2010 and drew up a development plan. For the president of the Cape Verdean Football Federation, the former Mengão man was important to the team’s qualification for the World Cup.

— The person who truly began the restructuring of the national team was João. From the moment he came here, he restructured all of this. Now, we are achieving all the objectives set out in the development plan he created. João introduced new ideas and drew up a medium- and long-term plan. It is through that plan that we have worked and managed to achieve the goals he proposed — said Mário Semedo, president of the Cape Verde Football Federation.

WHAT DID JOÃO DE DEUS SAY?

Before becoming Jorge Jesus’ assistant, João de Deus was also a head coach. Besides Cape Verde, Mister’s trusted man managed teams in India, Angola, Cyprus, Portugal and Spain. However, his greatest affection comes from the African national team, a newcomer to the World Cup.

— I’m very happy to see the country achieve the success it deserves and that people work so hard to attain. Now I’m at the stage of enjoying what Cape Verde will do. Just being at the World Cup is already an incredible achievement. Now, within the Federation’s structure, with the players, with the coaches, and with everyone who will follow Cape Verde, I hope they can enjoy it just as I will — João told GE.

SO HOW DID JOÃO DE DEUS DO AT FLAMENGO?

A champion of the Libertadores, Brasileirão, Carioca, Recopa and Supercopa with Flamengo, João de Deus made history at Mengão alongside Jorge Jesus. The assistant is currently unemployed after Mister’s departure from Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia.

Therefore, Deus will closely follow Cape Verde’s matches at the World Cup. The team is in Group H, the same group as Uruguay, of Arrascaeta, an old acquaintance of Jorge Jesus. Besides those two, the group also includes Saudi Arabia, the country where the duo worked until last month, and Spain.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.