The Cape Verde Football Federation has promoted their long‑time assistant Humberto Bettencourt to head coach, entrusting the 51‑year‑old with guiding the Blue Sharks into their next chapter after a historic FIFA World Cup debut.

Coach Bettencourt succeeds his former boss Bubista, who departed to manage Moroccan side RS Berkane. Having served six years as Bubista’s deputy, Bettencourt was a key architect of Cape Verde’s rise, including their landmark 2026 World Cup campaign where the island nation stunned global audiences.

Cape Verde’s federation opted for continuity, banking on Bettencourt’s tactical familiarity with the squad and philosophy that helped the team hold eventual champions Spain, draw Uruguay, and push Argentina to extra time in the round of 32.

His first major test will be the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with crucial fixtures in September and October, as expectations are higher than ever, since Cape Verde are no longer seen as outsiders but as a resilient force capable of challenging Africa’s elite.

For Bettencourt, the promotion marks a transition from behind‑the‑scenes strategist to the public face of Cape Verdean football, and he’s now tasked with ensuring the World Cup is remembered not as a one‑off triumph, but as the foundation for sustained success on the continental stage.