Hoops boss Bradley: Lopes' AFCON displays has attracted interest from abroad

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has confirmed that Pico Lopes' performances in the Africa Cup of Nations have attracted the interest from clubs on the continent.

Lopes' Cape Verde team take on Senegal in the last-16 in Bafoussam today, with the Shamrock Rovers centre half having started all three group games as the islands qualified for the AFCON knockout phase for only the second time in their history.

The 29-year-old Dubliner, who represented the Republic of Ireland at U19 level, qualifies to play via his Cape Verdean father, receiving his first-call up in 2019 - having initially dismissed his suitors' early attempts to contact him as scam calls.

Watching from afar, his club manager is highly enthused by his defender's displays.

"It's brilliant. When you're following Pico, it’s obviously made it (the tournament) so much more interesting," Bradley told RTÉ Sport.

"It’s brilliant to see him performing at that level against some of the world’s stars. He’s loving it which you would expect and it’s great to see him perform because he deserves it."

While Lopes hits 30 at next birthday, Bradley says his performances in Africa have sparked the interest of some clubs - noting it comes from Europe rather than England - though he was coy on the exact source of the enquiries.

"There has been a few teams that have really liked him and if they make that call to us, it's a conversation we’ll have to have with the club and with Pico. That’s the stage he’s on, he’s performing, and he’s getting recognised.

"There has but there hasn’t been any official requests. European. Yeah he looks he’s performed well and he is going to have that interest."

"There has been a few teams that have really liked him and if they make that call to us, it's a