New Zealand police drop rape charge against Cape Verde captain

New Zealand police have dropped the rape charges against Cape Verde's football captain, Ryan Mendes, citing false statements from the accuser. Inspector Scott Beard stated that the alleged sexual assault in Auckland was unproven. A 40-year-old woman has been charged with making false declarations and will appear in court next week. The incident reportedly occurred shortly after a friendly match between Cape Verde and Chile. Mendes' lawyer expressed relief over the decision, emphasizing the impact of the allegations on Mendes' reputation. Mendes, who has played 103 matches for Cape Verde, currently plays for RS Berkane in Morocco.