Cape Verde Part Ways With Coach Rui Aguas

The Cape Verde Football Federation (FCF) is looking for a new coach after it parted ways with Rui Aguas.

The federation confirmed his departure on Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation over the fate of the former Portugal international.

“The FCF management announces that Mr.Rui Aguas is no longer the coach of men’s national team as from date December 23, 2019,” the federation said in a short statement.

No further explanation was given for the decision to end the 59-year-old’s contract, but sources told Ducor Sports that he will be leaving Praia for another coaching job out of Africa.

Augas had been in charge of the Blue Sharks for a second stint since June last year, months after his resignation due to unpaid six months salaries.

He was in charge when the Cape Verdeans participated at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea, and were unlucky to be eliminated after the first round, despite not losing a game.

The ex-Benfica and FC Porto striker’s second spell at the helm of Blue Sharks started in June 2018 with a victory in a friendly against Algeria and then a draw with Andorra, but he failed to steer the Blue Sharks to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Augas considers Cape Verde as his second home and he has gone on to wed one of their own, a reason probably why he easily returned to the job after a series of negotiations with the FCF.

Last month, the Blue Sharks were held to a 2-2 draw by Mozambique in Praia in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Cape Verde’s next competitive match is in August 2021 when they travel to Maputo to face the Mambas in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

They began their campaign to reach the finals in a disappointing note after they were held to a goalless draw by Cameroon in November.

Rwanda are the other team in the group.