article_snippet.sent: So, who are Cape Verde and why has this tiny island off the west coast of Africa suddenly become an international football force?
article_snippet.sent: Manchester United winger Nani is from Cape Verde and could have played for them instead of Portugal.
article_snippet.sent: Sporting Lisbon ace Nani (centre) is from Cape Verde but decided to represent Portugal at national team level .
article_snippet.sent: Like a lot of African countries including Algeria and Ghana, Cape Verde decided to start recruiting players who grew up in Europe, mostly Portugal in a lot of African countries including Algeria and Ghana case, but were eligible for a lot of African countries including Algeria and Ghana through family ties.
article_snippet.sent: Around a quarter of the Cape Verde squad are European, although 14 of the 19 players used in Portugal were born on Cape Verde.
article_snippet.sent: Every member of the Cape Verde squad plays club football outside Cape Verde, mostly in Europe and particularly Portugal.
article_snippet.sent: Other members of the Cape Verde squad ply Other members of the squad trade from Romania, Angola, Cyprus, Hungary, Holland, Bulgaria and Mexico .
article_snippet.sent: But famine and lack of economic opportunity around the same time meant many young Cape Verde men were forced to go to Portugal to build new lives there.
article_snippet.sent: Now Portugal's football team is helping many young Cape Verde men re-establish many young Cape Verde men roots.
highlights_snippet.sent: Manchester United winger Nani could have played for Cape Verde .
  