Vozinha Faces Difficult Spell After Returning to Cape Verde for 2027 AFCON Qualifiers

After starring for Cape Verde at the World Cup, Vozinha is facing a difficult period following his costly mistake against Mali and his loss of playing time at Colo-Colo.

Vozinha Under Scrutiny After Error in Cape Verde’s Loss to Mali as He Fights for Starting Role at Colo-Colo

The Cape Verde goalkeeper came under scrutiny after making a costly mistake in the defeat to Mali, while also fighting to regain his starting spot with Colo-Colo.

After becoming one of the standout names at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Vozinha is going through a difficult spell. The veteran Cape Verde goalkeeper returned to international duty with an error that led directly to a goal in the 3-1 loss to Mali, opening the road to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

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FROM WORLD CUP SUCCESS TO A DIFFICULT SPELL

At 40 years old, Vozinha was one of the biggest revelations of the 2026 World Cup. The goalkeeper played a key role in helping the Blue Sharks reach the Round of 32 in their World Cup debut and particularly impressed during their 0-0 draw against Spain.

His performances even earned him a spot in the World Cup Best XI and a place among the 10 nominees for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world.

However, just a few weeks later, the veteran goalkeeper’s situation changed dramatically.

A MISTAKE THAT HURT CAPE VERDE

In his return to the national team, Vozinha started against Mali, but was at fault for the hosts’ third goal.

In the second half, he came out of his penalty area to try to clear a long ball but failed to control it.

The ball fell to Dorgeles Nene, who took advantage of the mistake and scored into an empty net.

The final score was 3-1 to Mali, a difficult start for Cape Verde in their quest to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations.

Africa Cup of Nations Qualification

Mali vs Cape Verde | 2027 AFCON Qualifiers |

VOZINHA HAS ALSO LOST GROUND AT COLO-COLO

Vozinha’s difficult period is not limited to the national team.

After leaving Chaves in Portugal’s second division, the goalkeeper joined Colo-Colo in Chile on a contract running through December 2026.

He initially arrived as the backup to 19-year-old Gabriel Maurera. Vozinha later earned the starting role and featured in league matches, but he was also criticized after making an error against Deportes Concepción in a game that ended 1-1.

HIS FUTURE IS BACK IN QUESTION

Vozinha’s contractual situation adds another layer of pressure.

The goalkeeper has an option to extend his Colo-Colo contract for one additional year, but the automatic renewal is conditional on him playing in at least 50% of the team’s matches from the time he joined the club.

So far, he has appeared in three of the nine matches he could have played.

After raising his profile with a historic performance at the World Cup, Vozinha now faces the challenge of regaining his importance for both Colo-Colo and Cape Verde.

THREE KEY STORYLINES IN VOZINHA’S CURRENT SITUATION

ERROR AGAINST MALI: Vozinha came under scrutiny after making a costly mistake in Cape Verde’s 3-1 defeat to Mali in the opening stage of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
LOST HIS SPOT AT COLO-COLO: The goalkeeper has also struggled to establish himself as a regular starter at Colo-Colo, where he is competing for the position with young goalkeeper Gabriel Maurera.
HIS FUTURE IS AT STAKE: Vozinha needs to regain playing time at Colo-Colo to move closer to the 50% appearance requirement included in his renewal clause while also maintaining his place in the Cape Verde national team.