Cape Verde manager silent on accusations against captain Ryan Mendes

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Cape Verde manager silent on accusations against captain Ryan Mendes

Cape Verde manager silent on accusations against captain Ryan Mendes

Jon Arnold and Nancy Armour, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Thu, Jul 2, 2026 ·

3 min read

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Cape Verde national team manager Bubista and defender Stopira stayed silent on reports the team captain Ryan Mendes is being investigated for a sexual assault that allegedly occurred during a team trip to New Zealand earlier this year.

Cape Verde meets Argentina in a round of 32 match Friday, July 3, and the two spoke at the pre-match news conference the day before the game. But they did not speak about the accusations that were brought into the public eye since the last time Cape Verde played a match.

After the news conference opened with a request from the team media officer to ask only questions about the match with Argentina , a reporter speaking English began to ask about the Mendes case. He was cut off by the same media officer, who again stated the pair would take questions only about the game.

After a few moments, another question was asked about soccer and the news conference continued. Another English-speaking journalist asked if the allegations were being taken seriously, with the coach and player staying silent – until the press conference moderator again jumped in.

"The team has already said they're just answering questions about the match," FIFA's press officer said, before the team media officer said, "Just the match please. Next."

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Cape Verde's dramatic World Cup debut against Spain captured in photos

Cape Verde's World Cup debut featured a heroic effort from their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha as they battled to a draw with soccer powerhouse Spain in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. Vozinha made 7 saves and kept the final to 0-0.See more of the action from this incredible match.

(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Cape Verde's Diney Borges in action with Spain's Mikel during a 2026 World Cup Group H match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS)

Cape Verde's Steven Moreira in action with Spain's Gavi during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's defender Steven Moreira controls the ball next to Spain's defender Aymeric Laporte during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Cape Verde's Vozinha makes a save from Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Bernadett Szabo, REUTERS)

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal in action with Cape Verde's Steven Moreira.
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's Vozinha in action as he makes a save during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Spain's midfielder Rodri reacts next to Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha after missing a goal opportunity during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's Aymeric Laporte and Gavi react during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Claudia Greco, REUTERS)

Spain's Gavi in action with Cape Verde's Steven Moreira during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS)

Spain's Ferran Torres in action with Cape Verde's Jamiro Monteiro during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS)

Spain's midfielder Fabian Ruiz shoots during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's Gavi in action with Cape Verde's Ryan Mendes during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Bernadett Szabo, REUTERS)

Spain's Marc Cucurella in action with Cape Verde's Ryan Mendes.
(Jordan Godfree, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's forward Ryan Mendes fights for the ball with Spain's defender Marc Cucurella during their 2026 World Cup Group H football match.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha throws the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's defender Aymeric Laporte and Cape Verde's forward Dailon Livramento fight for the ball.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's Ferran Torres in action.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha makes a save.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's Marc Cucurella in action.
(JORDAN GODFREE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's Vozinha in action with Spain's Pau Cubarsi and Cape Verde's Diney Borges.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Spain's Lamine Yamal in action.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Spain's Aymeric Laporte in action with Cape Verde's Nuno Da Costa.
(Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS)

Cape Verde's defender Steven Moreira and Spain's defender Pedro Porro fight for the ball.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Cape Verde's Willy Semedo in action with Spain's Marcos Llorente.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Spain's defender Pau Cubarsi misses the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

A Cape Verde fan holds a scarf up in the stands before the match.
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

A Brazilian reporter made an effort to ask about the captain more generally, but ran into the same treatment, asking. "Isn't it important to understand how he is mentally? That's the question." when his inquiry was rebuffed.

The New Zealand Herald and Brazilian outlet Globo have reported on the accusations against Mendes,made by a Brazilian woman who was working as a translator when Cape Verde was in New Zealand as part of a group of friendlies organized by FIFA called the FIFA Series.

The woman told authorities that Mendes came into her hotel room in Auckland and physically and sexually assaulted her, according to Globo . She reported the attack to authorities and underwent a sexual assault examination.

It is unclear if Mendes will see the field against Argentina, but the indications are that he would be cleared to play should Bubista want to include him in the team.

FIFA told USA TODAY in a statement that it takes "any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously" and said it "is in contact with the New Zealand authorities. Please understand we cannot comment further at this stage."

Cape Verde has made a remarkable run to the knockout stage, becoming the country with the smallest population ever to make the knockout stage by achieving a trio of draws, a stunning scoreless draw with Spain , a 2-2 back-and-forth stalemate with Uruguay and another 0-0 game with Saudi Arabia .

That, combined with Uruguay's failure to get a result with Spain on the final day, saw the African nation advance to the upcoming contest with the reigning world champion Argentina.

When Bubista did speak, he expressed confidence that his team will be able to compete despite facing an Argentina team with much more recognizable stars and a longer soccer history.

"This belief, this conviction in our team has been very helpful," Bubista said. "We are facing the current world champion and we will play with courage. We'll be bold and try to have a good match, fight for qualification with determination.

"We want the players to enjoy the match, of course, but to be focused and do everything to go to the next phase."

Mendes, a winger who plays his club soccer with Turkish side Igdir, started all three of Cape Verdes' group stage matches, playing all 90 minutes of the first two.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cape Verde manager silent on accusations against captain Ryan Mendes

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