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Dublin-born Roberto Lopes of Cape Verde described the “surreal” feeling of reaching the World Cup on the way home ireland To become a father for the first time.
Shamrock Rovers defender Lopez assisted Cape Verde – an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands atlantic ocean On the west coast of Africa, Brazil – with a population of less than 525,000 – became the second-smallest nation to reach the World Cup after beating Eswatini 3-0 at home on Monday.
It was the start of an extraordinary week for Lopes, better known as Pico, who wasted no time in getting back on the 4,500-kilometre journey. dublin Wife Leah is about to give birth to her first child.
Lopez said: “I can’t really put it into words right now. It’s a surreal feeling.”
“Huge relief at the end of the game, the realization that we did it, we’re going to the World Cup.
“I know some people will say that a lad from Crumlin has been playing in the League of Ireland his whole career, playing international football when he was 28, playing in the World Cup – I’m 33 now, I’ll be 34 during this time – it’s been incredible.
“I’m probably the luckiest person in the world. Very happy.”
Cape Verde gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and did not attempt to reach the World Cup until a tournament held in 2002. Japan And South Korea.
Finishing top of their group ahead of Cameroon, one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses, means Iceland – which competed at the 2018 World Cup in Russia – is the only country with a small population to qualify for the global festival of football.
But Lopes – who qualifies through his father Carlos, who left the island of Sao Nicolau when he was 16 – almost missed the opportunity to play for Cape Verde after ignoring an approach because he does not speak Portuguese.
Both Carlos and his father-in-law, Martin, had made the long trip to see Cape Verde make football history.
“I ignored a message for nine months,” said Lopes, who was recruited through a message on LinkedIn from former manager Rui Aguas.
“Thankfully, he wrote back in English and I did what I should have done the first time, translated the message first.
“I apologized profusely and thankfully they shrugged it off and they waited for me, and now I’m part of history.
“I hope my father is very proud. He is the reason I am playing for the Cape Verde national team and to represent him and my family at this level and now on the biggest stage in football is amazing.”
Shamrock Rovers hope to clinch the League of Ireland title on Friday, but Lopez has more pressing family matters.
He said: “The funny thing about this week is that football has been the last thing on my mind, and that’s all I really want to say.
“My wife and I are expecting our first child. It could be any time now.
“I’m really looking forward to getting home and hopefully be there for the birth of our baby.”