Just look at this tweet.
2014, no views, no RTs, no comments just passion following the game but some blockheads will come under my posts saying, this one dey farm. 🤣
Thank God for growth
BREAKING: Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has backed South Africa’s right to be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting Bafana Bafana earned their place at football’s biggest stage on merit
@UTDTrey Hazard was really good Trey! He is part of football's heritage. Look at what he was doing in 2018 World Cup Quarter-Final (Belgium vs Brazil).
@UTDTrey Hazard was really good Trey! He is part of football's heritage. Look at what he was doing in 2018 World Cup Quarter-Final (Belgium vs Brazil).
What I learnt from your write up reminds of Steve Jobs quote at the Stanford Commencement address.
"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future."
Thanks for sharing another piece of the puzzle. I learn something new from you almost everyday.
Kevin Pina Lenini's story sounds made up, but it isn't.
He was born in Praia, Cape Verde's capital, he left for the U.S. as a kid far from any pro football academy, and far from anyone's radar. He was just a guy playing street football. Until Cape Verde legend Carlos Morais saw something in him and talked him into coming home to chase the national team dream.
Benfica said no to him. He failed their trial. He thought his story would end there but it didn't. He ended up in Russia, grinding it out for Krasnodar where he made 49 apperance with just 3 goals. He has 30+ caps for Cape Verde. It has been quiet progress with little or no headlines until yesterday, June 21, 2026.
In the 21st minute. Cape Verde were down against two-time World Cup champions Uruguay. Bentancur fouls Arcanjo just outside the box, a yellow card was given by the referee. He stepped up to take what would arguably be his best goal. A free kick, 25-30 yards out. He splits the wall and bends it top corner with the keeper diving the wrong way.
This is only the 2nd direct free-kick goal of the entire 2026 World Cup scored by player from a nation of just over half a million people going toe-to-toe with football royalty.
Pina just rewrote their history books with one swing of boot. The kid who got rejected by Benfica. The guy playing street ball in America. The defensive midfielder nobody outside Cape Verde could've named a month ago.
Now he's a legend at home forever. The rest is now history but the memory would leave with him for a lifetime.
This is kind of Moment is what the World Cup is FOR.
#WorldCup2026 #CapeVerde
“DECÍAN QUE VENÍAMOS A RECIBIR GOLES…” 🇨🇻😮💨
Kevin Pina, elegido MVP tras el histórico empate de Cabo Verde ante Uruguay, dejó un mensaje que resume a la perfección lo que está haciendo su selección en esta Copa del Mundo:
“Marcar el primer gol de Cabo Verde en la historia de los Mundiales es algo que ni en mis mejores sueños imaginé. Este premio no me pertenece a mí, le pertenece a todo un pueblo que ha creído en nosotros desde el primer día.
Muchos pensaban que veníamos a ser espectadores, que nos iban a golear. Pero ya empatamos con España y ahora con Uruguay. Respetamos a todos, pero no le tenemos miedo a nadie.
El tamaño de nuestro país no determina el tamaño de nuestros sueños.”
Y quizá esa última frase explica todo.
Un país de poco más de medio millón de habitantes acaba de plantarse frente a dos gigantes del fútbol mundial y salir invicto.
Ahora les queda una auténtica final contra Arabia Saudita.
Y después de lo que han mostrado hasta ahora, nadie se atreve a descartarlos otra vez.
CABO VERDE QUIERE SEGUIR HACIENDO HISTORIA. 🇨🇻🔥
They should come and finish the job with Saudi Arabia next with 5 points. Unfortunately, that's where their fairy tale may end. This is because the runner-up of Group H advances to play the winner of Group J (Most likely Messi's Argentina) in the next round.
All in all, it has been an excellent World Cup experience for Cape Verde.
Two football powerhouses - Spain and Uruguay - have now been unable to beat Cape Verde.
I hope those that thought Cape Verde was going to be drinking goals in World Cup have seen what some of us have been seeing in African football for the past five years.