Bafana opponents in World cup warm-up

South Africa’s next World Cup opponents the Cape Verde Islands are playing in Luxembourg on Tuesday in their first match of the year as they warm-up for a double confrontation with Bafana Bafana in Group D in August and September.



Cape Verde have lost both opening World Cup group matches and are on a run of five defeats in their last six internationals.

Coach Lucio Antunes is using the game to look at new talent for the side including 18-year-old Jovane Cabral from Sporting Lisbon and Wuilito Fernandes, who plays college soccer in the USA and has just been drafted by FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ivan Cruz (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Thierry Graça (Estoril, Portugal), Vozinha (Gil Vicente, Portugal) Defenders: Carlitos (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus), Delmiro (Varzim, Portugal), Fernando Varela (PAOK Salonika, Greece), Gégé (Paços Ferreira, Portugal), Hidelvis Jardim (Mindelense), Jeffry Fortes (Excelsior, Netherlands), Steven Fortes (Le Havre, France), Tiago Almeida (Moreirense, Portugal)

Midfielders: Babanco (Feirense, Portugal), Helder Tavares (Tondela, Portugal), Jamiro (SC Cambuur, Netherlands), Marco Soares (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Nuno Rocha (Universitatea Craiova, Romania), Ponck (Chaves, Portugal), Sérgio Semedo (Apollon Limassol, Cyprus), Wuilito Fernandes (FC Dallas, USA)

Forwards: Garry Rodrigues (PAOK Salonika, Greece), Heldon (Rio Ave, Portugal), Jovane Cabral (Sporting Lisbon B, Portugal), Júlio Tavares (Dijon, France), Kuca (Arouca, Portugal), Kukula (Vizela, Portugal), Zé Luís (Spartak Moscow, Russia).