Cape Verde is set to make its debut at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco, a remarkable achievement for a team that only played its first match in 2018. Forward Sandra Martins expressed optimism, stating, "We are aiming to win two games [and] possibly go into the quarter-finals." The postponement of the tournament, initially scheduled for March, is viewed by Martins as a "blessing in disguise" for the team, allowing for crucial preparation time.

Places at the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup are at stake, with semi-finalists qualifying directly and losing quarter-finalists competing for two playoff spots. Cape Verde, currently ranked 120th in the world, are among the lowest-ranked teams but have shown resilience, upsetting Mali in qualification. They will face Ghana in their opening Group D match on Tuesday, followed by games against Mali and Cameroon.

Martins, who plays for London Bees in England's fourth tier, hopes their Wafcon debut will boost women's football in Cape Verde, mirroring the momentum from the men's recent Fifa World Cup appearance. "The popularity (of women's football) has definitely grown," she noted, emphasizing the strong national support for sports.