Cape Verde name Bettencourt to replace Bubista as head coach

Cape Verde have appointed Humberto Bettencourt as their new head coach, promoting their long-serving assistant to the top job as the 'Blue Sharks' look to build on their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

The 51-year-old Bettencourt replaces former coach Bubista, who left the national team to take charge of Moroccan club RS Berkane.

Bettencourt had served as Bubista's assistant for six years and was a key part of the technical setup behind Cape Verde's remarkable rise in international football, including their World Cup debut in 2026.

The Cape Verdean Football Federation opted for continuity rather than a fresh start. Bettencourt is already well-versed with the players, playing philosophy and team structure that delivered one of the finest achievements in the country's sporting history.

His first major task will be to prepare Cape Verde for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with important matches scheduled during the September and October international windows.