Cape Verde: National team player under investigation for alleged sexual assault in New Zealand

A player from the Cape Verde national team is currently under police investigation in New Zealand. The inquiry concerns an alleged sexual assault that reportedly took place during the FIFA Series held last March in Auckland.

According to information reported by the New Zealand Herald, the incident is said to have occurred at the Cape Verdean team hotel after their match against Chile, played on March 27 at Eden Park.

New Zealand police have confirmed that an investigation has been opened, but are remaining cautious about sharing details of the case.

"Police can confirm that an investigation is underway regarding an allegation reported to us on April 10, 2026, in central Auckland. We are unable to provide any further comment at this time," authorities told the New Zealand media outlet.

FIFA also involved in the case

According to multiple sources, FIFA has launched its own investigation after learning of the incident several months later. Investigators are currently seeking to obtain surveillance footage from the hotel to support their inquiry.

For its part, the world football governing body stated it had "no official comment to make at this time." The New Zealand Football Federation has also confirmed it will not comment on the matter.

World Cup preparations disrupted

This case comes as Cape Verde is preparing to play in the first World Cup in its history. The Blue Sharks, who qualified after their victory over Eswatini, represent one of the smallest nations ever to make it to the global tournament, with an estimated population of just 525,000.

At the launch of the FIFA Series 2026, FIFA explained that the competition was designed to "create meaningful international matchups" between teams "at all stages of their development."

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.