Welcome to Africanews

Please select your experience

Watch Live

News

news

Euro winning star Eder's family in Guinea-Bissau reacts to his latest feat

Football

Eder Lopes, became the unlikely hero after he scored Portugal’s winning goal against France to win the Euro 2016.

And back in the West African country of Guinea-Bissau where the 28-year-old grew up in a care home, relatives recall their memories after Sunday’s game.

“He often calls back home and speaks to everyone, especially his grandmother. And on the matchday before entering the stadium he called to tell his grandmother he would play,” said his sister Darcia Faleni Lopez.

His grandmother Ricardina Alfonso de Carvalho Lopez said: “Before the game I talked to him. I asked him to be serious on the ground. I told him to play well.

The player whose full name is Ederzito Antonio Macedo Lopes, has never played for any of the big three clubs in his homeland.

Eder is one of 4 members of the Portuguese squad with African roots, alongside Danilo (Guinea Bissau), Nani (Cape Verde) and William Carvalho (Angola).