Bubista, the coach who guided Cape Verde to an unforgettable debut at the World Cup, has been appointed as the new manager of Moroccan giants Renaissance Berkane, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
The 56-year-old, whose full name is Pedro Leitao Brito, becomes the latest figure from Cape Verde's historic campaign to secure a significant move abroad. Financial and contractual details of his deal with Berkane have not been disclosed, but reports suggest the move follows lengthy discussions in which the possibility of Bubista combining his national team duties with a club role was explored. Ultimately, that dual arrangement appears to have been ruled out, with indications now pointing to his imminent resignation from the Cape Verde job in the coming days.
Renaissance Berkane represents a major step for Bubista, who joins one of Moroccan football's most consistently successful sides. The club won the domestic league title in 2025 and were runners-up in the most recent campaign. They also reached the semi-finals of the African Champions League last season and are preparing for another continental campaign in Africa's top club competition.
Bubista's stock has soared since he orchestrated Cape Verde's qualification for their first-ever World Cup, an achievement that saw him named African Coach of the Year in 2025. His side then went on to produce one of the standout stories of the tournament itself, held across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Cape Verde stunned observers by holding both Spain and Uruguay to draws in the group stage before eventually bowing out in the round of 32, falling narrowly to Argentina after extra time. Argentina would go on to reach the final.
The wave of interest generated by Cape Verde's run has not been limited to their coach. Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, whose heroics against Spain turned him into an online sensation and dramatically boosted his social media following, has completed a move to Chilean club Colo-Colo.
The 40-year-old, whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias, is now in the process of seeking special permission to wear his famous nickname on the back of his shirt for his Colo-Colo debut, much as he did throughout the World Cup. Chilean league regulations currently restrict players to using their surnames, explicitly forbidding nicknames or alternate identifiers on jerseys.
According to the rules set out by the Chilean football association (ANFP), "Nicknames, appellations, or sobriquets will not be permitted. If there are players with the same surname at a club, the initial of the first name or the second surname, in that order of precedence, must be added to distinguish them."
Despite the strict wording, the ANFP has previously granted exceptions to certain players, and Colo-Colo are reportedly hopeful that a similar allowance will be made for their new goalkeeper, given the profile he built during his time with Cape Verde.
Together, the departures of Bubista and Vozinha underline just how far Cape Verde's World Cup adventure has elevated the profiles of those involved, transforming a small island nation's coaching staff and personnel into sought-after names on the international market. While the exits mark a significant loss for Cape Verde's federation, they also serve as a testament to the impact of the team's performances on the world stage, with both men now tasked with proving their quality in new and considerably higher-profile environments.
Based on reporting from Independent Football.