Behind every historic achievement is a visionary who believed when few others did. Cape Verde's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first in its history, is the culmination of a journey made of resilience, passion, and faith in the future of national sport.

This journey has a name: Mário Semedo. President of the Cape Verdean Football Federation for several terms, Semedo dedicated a large part of his life to building the foundations of a project that today thrills the entire country. With strategic vision and admirable persistence, he professionalized Cape Verdean football, brought the country closer to international best practices, and made sport a platform for pride, inclusion, and national identity.

His leadership spanned generations, inspired athletes, and consolidated a modern federation capable of dreaming big and competing among the best. This historic qualification is not just a sporting achievement; it is the symbol of a decade of work, dedication, and love for Cape Verde.

Mário Semedo represents the quiet strength of those who build in silence, believing that each step, each game, each young athlete represents the future of a nation. Today, his legacy is that of a man who transformed football into an instrument of cohesion, hope, and global projection, proving that when a people believes, the world ends up believing too.