Cape Verde's World Cup campaign has been eclipsed by an off-field police investigation involving captain Ryan Mendes. New Zealand authorities are reportedly investigating the 36-year-old forward over an alleged sexual assault said to have taken place during the national team's visit to Auckland in March, just months before the tournament.
Brazilian outlet Globo first identified Mendes as the player at the centre of the investigation, while reports from local media, including the New Zealand Herald, have corroborated this information, as official confirmation from law enforcement agencies remains restricted due to privacy legislation.
