A viral social media post has claimed Celtic supporters were backing Cape Verde during their World Cup clash with Spain.
While there is no independent evidence confirming who the supporters were or why they were supporting Cape Verde, the story has highlighted several genuine Celtic connections surrounding the African nation at this summer’s tournament.
The links stretch from Henrik Larsson to Cape Verde captain Pico Lopes and Irish club Shamrock Rovers.
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Celtic supporters were discussing Cape Verde during the World Cup
The online discussion began after images circulated from Cape Verde’s World Cup match against Spain in Atlanta.
Claims soon followed that supporters in the stands were connected to Celtic and were backing Cape Verde because of Henrik Larsson’s family roots.
Those claims remain unverified. However, there are several authentic links between Cape Verde and figures familiar to Celtic supporters.
Celtic legend Henrik Larsson has genuine Cape Verde roots
One of the strongest connections comes through Henrik Larsson. The Celtic icon’s father, Francisco da Rocha, was from Cape Verde, giving Larsson a direct family link to the country.
Larsson has spoken publicly about his heritage during his career, and his Cape Verdean background forms an important part of his personal story.
While many supporters know everything about his achievements on the pitch, his family connection to Cape Verde is less widely discussed.
Celtic fans may recognise another Cape Verde connection
Cape Verde defender Pico Lopes may be another reason some Celtic supporters have taken notice.
The Dublin-born international plays for Shamrock Rovers, a club long associated with green-and-white hoops and one that has enjoyed a close relationship with Celtic through major shareholder Dermot Desmond’s involvement in the club.
Celtic connections help explain the attention around Cape Verde
Whether the supporters shown in the viral post were Celtic fans or not, it is easy to understand why Cape Verde’s World Cup story has generated interest among sections of the Celtic support.
Between Larsson’s family roots, the presence of Shamrock Rovers defender Pico Lopes and Dermot Desmond’s connection to the Irish club, Cape Verde’s World Cup story contains more Celtic-adjacent links than many supporters initially realised.
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