Former defender Bobbie Friberg Da Cruz regrets turning down Cape Verde national team opportunity

Former Sweden-based defender Bobbie Friberg Da Cruz has revealed his biggest football regret, admitting that turning down the chance to represent Cape Verde remains a decision he wishes he could reverse.Speaking ahead of Cape Verde's historic participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 44-year-old reflected on an opportunity that slipped away during his playing career.Friberg Da Cruz, who has Cape Verdean roots, was invited to join the national team setup and attended a training camp in Portugal in 2007 alongside his younger brother, Johan Friberg Da Cruz.At the time, both brothers were playing for Swedish side Gais and were viewed as potential additions to the Cape Verde squad.Despite making contact with the national team and attending the camp, Friberg Da Cruz never went on to earn a competitive appearance for the Blue Sharks.Looking back, the former defender says declining a call-up for a match against Cameroon in 2009 remains one of the biggest regrets of his life."If I had the chance to go back and change one thing in my life, it would have been accepting the match against Cameroon in 2009," Friberg Da Cruz told FotbollDirekt."That was when Samuel Eto'o had won everything with Barcelona."The former defender enjoyed a successful club career across Scandinavia, becoming well known for his spells at Gais and IFK Norrkoping.He also achieved one of the most remarkable accomplishments of his career in Finland, helping IFK Mariehamn secure a historic league title.However, the opportunity to represent Cape Verde on the international stage remains unfinished business in his football journey.Cape Verde have since grown into one of Africa's emerging football nations and are set to make history by appearing at their first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2026.Their qualification has reignited memories for Friberg Da Cruz, who wonders what might have been had he chosen a different path nearly two decades ago.While his club career brought memorable achievements, the chance to wear the Cape Verde national team jersey is the chapter he admits he wishes had been written differently.