Cape Verde forward Ricardo Gomes has explained the reason behind his decision to quit the team ahead of Tuesday’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The Cape Verdean Football Federation had claimed the Partizan Belgrade star left the squad due to injury worries.

However, Gomes has confirmed his international retirement.

In a statement today, the 29-year-old who missed the 1-1 draw against the Central African Republic, said: “It is public knowledge at the moment that I am playing for Partizan FK club that participates in the Serbian championship.

“However, during these years I have always honoured the calls, even in situations where professionally it would be advisable to refuse or temporarily abdicate our selection, placing our selection above my personal and professional ambitions and the ambitions of the clubs that for all intents and purposes are the responsible and biggest investors in my professional career, all in compliance with the dream of participating and helping our country, by the way, a dream I’ve had since I know myself as people.

“However, after the collective training for the match against Nigeria, it was clear that my help at the moment is expendable. Despite the long trip made from Serbia it was clear that the technical team did not count me for the first team, nor for the second team.”

Since making his international debut in 2015, Gomes has scored four times in 16 matches for Cape Verde.