The countdown to the first edition of the Cape Verde Favelas Cup has already begun. On the coming 4 July, the football pitch at Ponta D’Água, in the city of Praia, is hosting the national women’s competition which will mark the start of Cape Verde’s journey towards the international competition 2027 Favelas Cup, Brazil. But the tournament is just one stage in a much broader project, which brings together sport, women’s leadership, social inclusion and national mobilisation.
The route began at 21 May, with a charity concert held at the Portuguese Cultural Centre in Praia, organised by CUFA Cabo Verde and the Maracanã Association. The event marked the official launch of the national campaign and the crowdfunding platform, which will enable any citizen, company or member of the diaspora to contribute to the preparation of the future Cape Verdean women’s national team, which will represent the country in Brazil in 2027. The concert also served to present the programme EmpowerHer Cape Verde, a youth empowerment initiative for young women linked to the Taça das Favelas.
Inspired by the world’s largest football tournament in the favelas, organised by the Central Única das Favelas since 2012 and now held in dozens of countries, the Cape Verde Favelas Cup focuses on women’s football as a tool for inclusion and social transformation. The aim is to select and train a women’s team capable of representing the country internationally, whilst promoting girls’ participation in sport, developing leadership skills and creating new opportunities for young people from urban and rural communities in Santiago.
On 4 July, during the 2nd edition of Kumunidadi Fest, the Under-17 girls’ teams from different regions will compete in the national qualifiers. As well as the competition, the event aims to establish itself as a celebration of community, culture and young talent, bringing together hundreds of young people, families, social organisations and institutional partners.
One of the most innovative features of the initiative is the creation of a network of around 20 godmothers and mentors, leading women from Cape Verdean society who will support the young athletes throughout the process. The role of these mentors goes far beyond symbolic support: they will help to boost the participants’ self-esteem, open doors to new opportunities, share life experiences and mobilise resources to bring the project to fruition. Through the EmpowerHer programme, the young women will have access to training in leadership, entrepreneurship, active citizenship and financial independence, complementing their sporting preparation.
Following the national competition, a new phase will begin, focused on fundraising and preparing the national team. Between August 2026 and mid-2027, a programme of fundraising events, initiatives involving the Cape Verdean diaspora, mentoring sessions, community activities and the production of a documentary chronicling the athletes’ journey is planned. The aim is to ensure that the team arrives in Brazil not only prepared to compete, but also equipped to perform as an ambassador for the values of inclusion, equality and community development.
With the motto “From communities to the world: nurturing the next generation of leaders”, the Cape Verde Favelas Cup is a nation-wide project led by women and supported by society as a whole. More than just discovering football talent, the initiative aims to set positive examples for Cape Verdean youth, demonstrating that sport can be a powerful tool for shaping citizens, leaders and agents of change capable of transforming their communities and representing Cape Verde on the biggest international stages.
