Cape Verde Player Under Investigation Over Alleged Sexual Assault in New Zealand

A member of the Cape Verde national football team is reportedly under investigation in New Zealand following an alleged sexual assault incident during the FIFA Series held in March.

According to New Zealand journalist Michael Burgess of the New Zealand Herald, the alleged incident occurred shortly after Cape Verde’s international friendly against Chile national football team on 27 March in Auckland. The match, played at Eden Park, ended in a 4-2 defeat for the Cape Verdeans.

Reports indicate that the alleged incident took place at the team hotel several hours after the game. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the player involved.

New Zealand Police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

“An allegation is under investigation, reported to us on April 10, 2026, in central Auckland. We are unable to comment further at this time,” police said, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Local reports further suggest that the player in question is expected to be included in Cape Verde’s squad for their historic first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.

A source close to the complainant reportedly told the New Zealand Herald that the individual involved has been “struggling to cope” in the aftermath of the alleged incident.

Meanwhile, FIFA has yet to confirm whether it will open its own investigation, with the organisation stating that it is “way too early” to comment publicly on the matter. FIFA also confirmed that it has contacted the New Zealand Football, which hosted the FIFA Series tournament.

Football authorities in both New Zealand and Cape Verde have so far declined to provide additional comments as investigations continue.

Cape Verde recently made history by qualifying for their maiden FIFA World Cup after topping a challenging qualifying group ahead of Cameroon national football team, Libya national football team, Angola national football team, Mauritius national football team and Eswatini national football team, securing a historic place at football’s biggest tournament.

About The Author

Emmanuel Austin Baah

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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