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Stephy Zhang

Following Cabo Verde’s World Cup heroics, Chinese fans are worried about their country’s chances in a mooted international friendly match between the two nations.
The prospect of a match between China and the tiny nation off the coast of West Africa was raised by the Cabo Verde football association last month.
Speaking to mainland media, Paulo Santos, vice-president of the Cabo Verdean Football Federation, expressed gratitude for China’s help with infrastructure and revealed plans for a post-World Cup friendly match between the two national teams.
“Our national stadium was a gift from the Chinese government, built by a Chinese construction company. Even now, a 25-person Chinese team maintains the stadium’s lighting and facilities,” he said.
“Last Friday, our president dined with the Chinese ambassador and finalised a friendly match between our national teams after the World Cup,” Santos revealed, adding that local Chinese businesspeople supply most of their national jerseys. “They are our friends, our brothers.”


Mainland media, however, clarified that the two sides will not meet soon because of China’s Asian Cup preparations.
But this did not stop fans from discussing China’s chances, or lack thereof, in a friendly match and trying to find ways to politely decline the offer to play Cabo Verde.
“It’s the thought that counts. You’ve had a tiring run, so go home and rest early,” one fan wrote in a much-liked comment.
Another replied: “If they play against us, their goalkeeper can really just rest on the pitch.”
“There is really no need, don’t repay kindness with enmity,” another commented.
While some internet users were more than happy to welcome the team to the dinner table rather than the football pitch.
“You are welcome to visit and try our food; after all, Chinese friendship is best found at the dinner table.”
According to the Beijing Youth Daily, an official newspaper of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, the Chinese Football Association currently has no plans to play Cabo Verde.
The report stated that to prepare for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia early next year, the Chinese men’s team prefer to play warm-up matches this autumn against teams with styles similar to their group stage opponents, Iran, Syria and Kyrgyzstan.
Friendlies against Uzbekistan and North Korea have reportedly been finalised, ruling out a match with Cabo Verde for now.
Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, posted on Weibo on Saturday, calling on the Chinese men’s team to emulate World Cup dark horses Cabo Verde and revive their dreams of reaching the global showpiece tournament. China’s only World Cup appearance came in 2002.

Santos also shared advice on how China’s men’s team can improve, emphasising sustainable development and noting that many countries spend “heavily” on star players but neglect youth academies and long-term planning.
“China has a huge population. The priority is good scouting, finding the best young talents, placing them in professional training centres where they study and train,” he said. “In five to ten years, you will have a generation that can compete with the world’s best.”
“We started our youth programme ten years ago. Five of our current starters came from that system. There is no magic – only hard work, good planning, and creating the right environment for young players.”


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Thanks but no thanks: China football fans happy to see Cabo Verde friendly scrapped

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Idea raised by African nation’s football association, with vice-president also sharing advice on how China’s men’s team can improve

Idea raised by African nation’s football association, with vice-president also sharing advice on how China’s men’s team can improve