Diney Borges

A powerful Cape Verdean centre-back who developed through Portuguese football before establishing himself in the Moroccan and UAE leagues, Diney Borges was named Botola Best Foreign Player in 2022–23 and is a regular for the Blue Sharks.

Borges came through Vitória FC's youth system before joining Marítimo B in Portugal, making his professional debut in November 2014. He spent several seasons in the Portuguese football pyramid — including stints at Estoril Praia — before moving to North Africa, where he became a standout performer for FAR Rabat in Morocco's Botola Pro, earning Best Foreign Player and Team of the Season recognition in 2022–23.

After his success in Morocco, Borges transferred to UAE Pro League side Al Bataeh in July 2023. He made his international debut for Cape Verde in November 2017 during World Cup qualifying and has since been a dependable defensive presence for the Blue Sharks at two AFCON tournaments, contributing to their historic 2026 World Cup qualification.