Pedro Leitão Brito, popularly known as Bubista, has been named the CAF Coach of the Year, capping off an extraordinary chapter in Cape Verdean football history. His leadership and tactical brilliance guided Cape Verde to a landmark achievement—qualification for the FIFA World Cup.

Cape Verde topped a challenging qualifying group that included Cameroon, Libya, and Angola, finishing with an impressive 23 points. Under Bubista’s guidance, the Blue Sharks won seven matches, drew two, and lost just one, showcasing consistency, discipline, and a clear footballing identity throughout the campaign.

Bubista’s journey to this historic moment has been years in the making. Since taking charge of the national team in 2020, he has steadily elevated Cape Verde’s status on the African football landscape. He first led the team to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where they reached the Round of 16, and followed it up with another strong showing at the 2023 AFCON, advancing to the quarterfinals.

His long-term project, built on continuity, tactical cohesion, and player development, has paid off spectacularly with Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup qualification.