Cape Verde overhaul squad

Cape Verde will play Italy's U21 side on Tuesday

Cape Verde coach Ricardo Rocha has made major changes to his squad for the friendly against Italy's under-21 side in Cesena on Tuesday.

For his first game in charge, the Brazilian has dropped five key players while naming three new faces in his 18-man squad.

The most prominent player dropped by Rocha is Cafu, who plays for German side Freiburg.

Cafu has been an instrumental figure in Cape Verde's recent resurgence as force in African football.

Sandro, Janicio and Ernesto are the other key players who were left out of the squad.

Portugal-based striker Dady is also left despite being in good form for his club Belenenses.

An interesting inclusion among the four newcomers is Zico Veiga, who plays college football in the United States.

But Zico is not entirely unknown in Cape Verde because he played for the country's under-21 side at the 2006 Lusophone Games in Macao.

Another surprise inclusion is goalkeeper Jalison Moreira alias Cadabra, who was born in Luxembourg.

Babanca of Sporting Praia and Romy of Academica Mindelo are included for their first caps.

Cape Verde will play Algeria next month in a Group Eight Nations Cup qualifier.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Raul de Pina (Uniao Micaelense, Portugal), Cadabra (FC Etzella, Luxemburg)

Defenders: Nelson Veiga (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus), Loloti (Sporting Clube Praia), Pelé (Southampton, England), Zé Piguita (Al Shamal, Qatar), Nando (US Monastir, Tunisia)

Midfielders: Lito (Naval Primeiro Maio, Portugal), Emerson (Beira-Mar, Portugal), Néné (Desportivo Aves, Portugal) Victor Moreno (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal), Marco Soares (Olhanense, Portugal), Babanco (Sporting Clube Praia)

Strikers: Rodolfo Lima (Portimonense, Portugal), Hernani (Desportivo das Aves, Portugal), Calo (Al Shamal, Qatar), Romy (Academica Mindelo), Zico (United States).