Cape Verde men's national basketball team

Early development

Basketball in Cape Verde gained structure following independence in 1975, but formal organization only began later with the establishment of the Federação Cabo-verdiana de Basquetebol. The federation joined FIBA in 1988.^[4]

AfroBasket debut

Cape Verde debuted in the AfroBasket in 1997, finishing 7th in the nine-team tournament. They returned in 1999 and steadily improved in subsequent editions.^[5]

Historic bronze at AfroBasket 2007

At the 2007 AfroBasket in Angola, Cape Verde won 62–53 against Nigeria in the quarterfinals, lost to host nation Angola in the semifinals, and won against Egypt 53–51 in the third-place match. This secured Cape Verde’s first-ever medal at the continental championship.^[6][7]

Edy "Walter" Tavares joins the team

In 2013, center Edy Tavares joined. He was named to the All-Star Five at AfroBasket 2021 and averaged a double-double during World Cup qualifying.^[8][9]

World Cup qualification

On 26 February 2023, Cape Verde qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time by defeating Ivory Coast in the African qualifiers. With this, Cape Verde became the smallest nation by population ever to reach the World Cup, surpassing Montenegro’s record.^[10][11]

World Cup debut

At the 2023 World Cup in the Philippines, Cape Verde earned their first-ever win on the world stage by defeating Venezuela 81–75. Edy Tavares contributed 14 rebounds along with defensive dominance to secure the victory.^[12][13]

AfroBasket 2025 performance

At AfroBasket 2025, Cape Verde continued to rely on Tavares, who set a new personal record with 19 rebounds in the group stage. Despite a 81–82 loss to Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde remained in contention for a quarterfinal spot.^[14][15]

FIBA World Cup

More information Year, Round ...

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L
1990	Did not qualify
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2019
2023	Classification round	28th	5	1	4
2027	To be determined
2031
Total	1/11		5	1	4

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AfroBasket

  Third place    Fourth place  

More information Year, Round ...

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L
1989	Did not qualify
1992
1993
1995
1997	Classification stage	7th	4	1	3
1999	Preliminary round	9th	6	3	3
2001	Did not qualify
2003
2005
2007	Third place	3rd	6	4	2
2009	Classification rounds	13th	5	3	2
2011	Did not qualify
2013	Quarter-finals	6th	7	4	3
2015	Round of 16	10th	5	3	2
2017	Did not qualify
2021	Fourth place	4th	6	3	3
2025	Quarter-finals	8th	5	3	2
Total	8/17		44	24	20

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African Games

• 2011 – 6th

Lusophony Games

• 2006 –
• 2009 –
• 2014 – 4th

Current roster

Roster for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket.^[16]

More information Players, Coaches ...

Cape Verde national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. SG 0 Patrick Lima 30 – (1995-05-02)2 May 1995 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) CB Andújar SG 1 Anim Delgado 26 – (1999-04-03)3 April 1999 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Jaén Paraíso F 2 Will Tavares 30 – (1995-07-18)18 July 1995 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) KB Ylli PF 3 Roesley Sanches 23 – (2002-03-11)11 March 2002 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Jaén Paraíso F 6 Ivan Almeida 36 – (1989-05-10)10 May 1989 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Kriol Star SG 8 Anderson Correia 27 – (1997-10-31)31 October 1997 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Kriol Star SF 9 Joel Almeida 39 – (1985-10-11)11 October 1985 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Kriol Star PF 10 Kenneti Mendes (C) 34 – (1990-08-17)17 August 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Kriol Star PF 12 Amarilson Lopes 29 – (1995-08-18)18 August 1995 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Santo André C 16 Keven Gomes 29 – (1995-10-29)29 October 1995 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) CB Benicarló SF 21 Betinho Gomes 40 – (1985-02-05)5 February 1985 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Benfica C 22 Edy Tavares 33 – (1992-03-22)22 March 1992 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) Real Madrid	Head coach Emanuel Trovoada Assistant coach(es) Edmilson Abreu Manuel Duarte Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 12 August 2025

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Head coach position

• Carlos Tavares – early 2000s
• Manuel da Costa – early 2000s
• Rui Silva – early 2000s
• Emanuel Trovoada – 2007
• Eric Silva – 2008
• Alex Nwora – 2009–2013^[17]
• Antonio Tavares – 2014
• Luis Magalhães – 2015
• Emanuel Trovoada – 2016–2022
• Jorge Rito – 2023 (e.g., AfroCan 2023 & subsequent competitions)
• Emanuel Trovoada – 2024–present (returned after 2023 stint by Rito)

Past rosters

Team for the 2013 FIBA Africa Championship.^[18][19]

More information Players, Coaches ...

Cape Verde men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F 4 Dimitry Coronel 21 – (1992-08-13)13 August 1992 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Maine Univ. G 5 Shane da Rosa 25 – (1988-04-23)23 April 1988 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Bristol Community College G/F 6 Avey Oliver 29 – (1983-10-12)12 October 1983 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) TV Hohenlimburg G 7 Braima Freire 31 – (1982-01-19)19 January 1982 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) Seven Stars G 8 Mário Correia 35 – (1978-03-17)17 March 1978 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Promade Cabinda F 9 Flávio Gomes 24 – (1988-12-26)26 December 1988 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) AngraBasket C 10 Kenneti Mendes 23 – (1990-08-17)17 August 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Prédio SGL C 11 Aldevino Lima 26 – (1986-08-25)25 August 1986 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Northeastern C 12 Edy Tavares 21 – (1992-03-22)22 March 1992 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) Atlanta Hawks G 13 Brian Rudolph, Jr. 24 – (1988-09-17)17 September 1988 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) Loyola (MD) F 14 Kevin Coronel 21 – (1991-09-03)3 September 1991 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Académica do Mindelo F 15 Rodrigo Mascarenhas 33 – (1980-03-24)24 March 1980 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Mindelo Vets	Head coach Alex Nwora Assistant coach(es) António Tavares Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 20 August 2013

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Roster for AfroBasket 2021.^[20]

More information Players, Coaches ...

Cape Verde men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. SF 0 Patrick Lima 26 – (1995-05-02)2 May 1995 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Prédio Basketball PG 4 Jeff Xavier 35 – (1985-09-07)7 September 1985 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Cáceres F 6 Ivan Almeida 32 – (1989-05-10)10 May 1989 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Benfica PG 7 Fidel Mendonça 37 – (1984-07-07)7 July 1984 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Prédio Basketball SG 8 Anderson Correia 23 – (1997-10-31)31 October 1997 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Chamusca SF 9 Joel Almeida 35 – (1985-10-11)11 October 1985 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Kutaisi 2010 PF 10 Kenneti Mendes 31 – (1990-08-17)17 August 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Galitos SF 11 Patrick Abreu 30 – (1991-03-20)20 March 1991 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Prédio Basketball C 13 Sekouba Condé 31 – (1989-12-31)31 December 1989 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Viana C 14 Ailton Lopes 25 – (1995-09-18)18 September 1995 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) CB Clavijo PF 15 Kevin Coronel 29 – (1991-09-03)3 September 1991 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Tarragona C 22 Edy Tavares 29 – (1992-03-22)22 March 1992 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) Real Madrid	Head coach Emanuel Trovoada Assistant coach(es) Edmilson Abreu Danielson Miranda Legend Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 24 August 2021

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Roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.^[21][22]

More information Players, Coaches ...

Cape Verde men's national basketball team – 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. SG 0 Nathan Pires 13 – (2010-07-15)15 July 2010 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) CB Almería PG 5 Shane Da Rosa 35 – (1988-04-23)23 April 1988 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Providence Pirates F 6 Ivan Almeida 34 – (1989-05-10)10 May 1989 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Benfica PG 7 Fidel Mendonça (C) 39 – (1984-07-07)7 July 1984 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Prédio Basketball SG 8 Anderson Correia 25 – (1997-10-31)31 October 1997 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Sangalhos DC SF 9 Joel Almeida 37 – (1985-10-11)11 October 1985 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) FAP PF 10 Kenneti Mendes 33 – (1990-08-17)17 August 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) FAP F 13 Will Tavares 28 – (1995-07-18)18 July 1995 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) BC Yambol SF 15 Kevin Coronel 31 – (1991-09-03)3 September 1991 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Portimonense C 16 Keven Gomes 27 – (1995-10-29)29 October 1995 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) FC Porto SF 21 João Gomes 38 – (1985-02-05)5 February 1985 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Benfica C 22 Edy Tavares 31 – (1992-03-22)22 March 1992 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) Real Madrid	Head coach Emanuel Trovoada Assistant coach(es) Manuel Duarte Danielson Miranda Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 25 August 2023

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Manufacturer

2015 – Peak

2025 – Dhika

Sponsor

2015 – Zap