Wafcon 2026: Debutants Cape Verde target quarter-finals

Martins won her first international cap in the first leg of the Wafcon qualifier against Mali last October, a 1-0 defeat in Praia.

She travelled to Bamako for the second leg but missed a dramatic match through illness, with the Blue Sharks winning 4-2 after a floodlight failure in the second half.

“When the final whistle went it was amazing,” she recalled.

“Everyone was euphoric, screaming how happy we were. A true sisterhood [has] formed.

“When we got back to Praia loads of locals travelled to the airport to celebrate what we had achieved.”

It is a big year for football on the Atlantic Ocean archipelago after Cape Verde’s men made their Fifa World Cup debut.

The team were the underdog story of the tournament, surprising most of the football world and winning hearts by reaching the last 32 and giving defending champions Argentina a scare before losing 3-2 after extra time.

Martins hopes that the country’s Wafcon debut will now play its part in boosting the women’s game on the islands.

“The popularity (of women’s football) has definitely grown,” she said. “I think we picked up a lot of momentum from the men’s [qualification].

“In general, any time there’s a sport event going on, the country does well in getting behind any team. On social media, everyone’s being supportive.

“I hope some of them can come to watch us in Morocco, but if not I’m pretty sure that energy will come all the way across to Morocco.”