MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands, links between Cape Verde and the Islands

Everybody (rather all football supporters) enjoyed the extraordinary match between the supposedly rookie team of Cabo Verde Islands and the current Argentine world Cup holders. It was a spectacular match, Cabo Verde challenging the champs, and following a first goal from Messi, the team from the former Portuguese colony put up a marvelous resistance and attack.

The Argentine team went from surprise to surprise and had to overcome some brilliant display of football from the Blue Sharks, but finally Cabo Verde succumbed to the experience and talent of the Argentines, to the applause of all supporters.

However Cabo Verde-s recent history has not been absent of Falkland Islands issues, in 1982, during the war, and wth only seven years of independence, (1975) the former colony refused the UK the use of its airport and docking facilities. The facilities included a 3.000 kilometer runway on the island of Sal, but could be understood given the recent independence from centuries of colonial rule.

However only four decades later, the air bridge, Brize Norton/Falkland Islands would in effect be authorized to use the Sal airport, and refuel the air bridge. This was because the RAF flights normally stopover at the Ascencison islands air base , but its major main airstrip was undergoing major repairs. By 2018 operations shifted back to Ascension and Cabo Verde remained a contingency stop over.

Finally a few numbers on Cape Verde, the whole population of the Islands in some 530.000 people. Most of its national team lives overseas and was born mainly in Netherlands where there is a numerous community.