[1] Born in São Nicolau, Nivaldo started playing football in his country with Batuque FC.

Aged 18, he moved to Portugal to complete his development, joining Académica de Coimbra for his last year as a junior.

[3] On 16 August 2011, Nivaldo returned to Académica and thus moved straight into the Primeira Liga, signing a three-year contract with the Students.

[3] He made his debut in the competition on 12 September by coming in as a 62nd-minute substitute in a 4–0 home win against C.D.

Nacional,[4] but spent most of his two-year spell with the side as understudy to Hélder Cabral.