Cape Verde operates as an individual-led side with a balanced, mixed-tempo approach. With Dailon Rocha Livramento contributing 17% of their scoring output, the team relies on key individual moments to drive their attack. Their ability to maintain over 54% possession suggests a controlled style that remains competitive against varied opposition.

Playing identity · system ↔ individual × direct ↔ possession

Cape Verde is plotted from possession share and top-scorer concentration. PPDA and recent form are supporting context when present.

+Recent form8 · 3W 4D 1L

2026-07-03World Cup 2026ACPV 2-3 ARGL

2026-06-27World Cup 2026HCPV 0-0 KSAD

2026-06-21World Cup 2026ACPV 2-2 URUD

2026-06-15World Cup 2026ACPV 0-0 ESPD

2025-10-13World Cup 2026 qualifying · CAFHCPV 3-0 SWZW

2025-10-08World Cup 2026 qualifying · CAFACPV 3-3 LBYD

2025-09-09World Cup 2026 qualifying · CAFHCPV 1-0 CMRW

2025-09-04World Cup 2026 qualifying · CAFACPV 2-0 MRIW

International friendly matches are excluded

N2 · Scoring

open play 100%

How they score

Cape Verde relies exclusively on open play to generate their scoring output. With a conversion rate significantly above the field average, the team demonstrates high efficiency when building through active play. They have yet to record a goal from set-piece situations despite consistent shot volume.

Goal source · share of play-type-classified goals

100%

Open play100%

Effectiveness · conversion by source vs benchmark

Open play43%avg 20%+24 pts

23 goals from 53 shots.

Set piece0.0%avg 4.5%-4 pts

0 goals from 22 shots.

benchmark average higher than field by 3+ pts lower than field by 3+ pts

Goal-source shares use non-own-goal rows with source_class values; own goals are excluded.

+Top scorers · still a threat?100% intact

100% of listed scorer goals come from players still marked in the squad.

Dailon Rocha Livramento	in squad	4 · 17%
Jamiro Monteiro	in squad	3 · 13%
Ryan Mendes	in squad	3 · 13%
Diney Borges	in squad	2 · 8%

N3 · Conceding

open play 100%

How they concede

Cape Verde's defensive vulnerabilities are exclusively rooted in open play. With every classified goal conceded during open-field transitions, opponents may find success by prioritizing quick, fluid movement to bypass their defensive structure. Their resilience against set pieces suggests that disciplined, organized attacks in open play offer the most reliable path to breaking them down.

Conceded goal source · share of play-type-classified goals

100%

Open play100%

Effectiveness · conceded conversion by source vs benchmark

Open play18%avg 20%-2 pts

9 conceded from 51 shots faced.

Set piece0.0%avg 4.5%-4 pts

0 conceded from 21 shots faced.

benchmark average lower than field by 3+ pts higher than field by 3+ pts

Conceded source shares use non-own-goal rows with source_class values.

N4 · Big moments

falls short · -0.77 GD residual

Better than their rating?

Cape Verde consistently underperforms relative to their Elo-based expectations. With a residual of -0.77, the team struggles to bridge the gap against higher-rated opponents, though their performance remains more stable than the field median.

Over-performance DNA · beats-its-rating × reliability, the tournament field

CPVTournament field · 48solid line = rating-neutral · dashed = field-median reliability100 Elo ~= -0.37 goals

+Biggest over- & under-performances19 matches

Residual = actual goal difference minus what the Elo gap predicted.

vs MOZ · 2024-01-19	GD +3 vs exp +1.94	+1.06
vs ESP · 2026-06-15	GD 0 vs exp -1.03	+1.03
vs SWZ · 2025-10-13	GD +3 vs exp +2.44	+0.56
vs CMR · 2024-06-08	GD -3 vs exp +0.97	-3.97
vs RSA · 2024-02-03	GD -1 vs exp +1.45	-2.45
vs MRI · 2025-03-20	GD +1 vs exp +3.12	-2.12