HE'S AT THE VERY PICO HIS POWERS

Praise for Lopes who could be bound for the World Cup

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

WHILE Ireland's World Cup mission was blown off the road, one Irishman remains firmly on track to play at the 2026 finals.

Dubliner Roberto Lopes is enjoying another remarkable odyssey with Cape Verde, the African island nation that his father hails from.

And the Shamrock Rovers captain (right) is just one win away from qualification, after a brilliant 1-0 take down of Cameroon on the same night Ireland were falling apart in Armenia.

At the Hoops’ Road-stone training ground yesterday morning, there was a warm round of applause for both Lopes and youngster Michael Noonan when they arrived.