Praia: Cape Verde has made a significant mark in international football by becoming the second-smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup. The Blue Sharks secured their spot at the 2026 finals with a decisive 3-0 victory over Eswatini at the National Stadium, securing the top position in their qualifying group and surpassing continental heavyweights like Cameroon.
According to BBC, Dailon Livramento set the tone for the hosts in Praia, converting a loose ball in the six-yard box early in the second half. Willy Semedo quickly followed with a second goal, and veteran defender Stopira sealed the win with a third goal in stoppage time, triggering celebrations among the 15,000 spectators. This victory follows a crucial 1-0 win over Cameroon last month, which positioned Cape Verde as leaders in Group D, requiring just one more victory from their remaining matches to secure their World Cup berth in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Cape Verde's journey to qualification was not without challenges. They missed their first chance to qualify after a 3-3 draw with Libya, where they overcame a two-goal deficit but were denied a stoppage-time winner due to an offside call. However, they capitalized on their second opportunity against Eswatini, becoming the sixth African team to qualify for next year's finals.
Cape Verde President Jose Maria Neves watched the match as the home crowd endured a tense first half, with Livramento narrowly missing a shot and Jamiro Monteiro's attempt thwarted by Eswatini's goalkeeper, Khanyakwezwe Shabalala. The atmosphere shifted when Livramento opened the scoring three minutes into the second half, leading to enthusiastic celebrations. Semedo's goal, assisted by Diney's knockdown, further energized the crowd.
Centre-back Roberto Pico Lopes highlighted the benefits of the expanded World Cup format, which now guarantees nine slots for African teams, up from five in Qatar 2022. "Traditionally, it's been difficult to qualify for the World Cup, especially in Africa where you had to finish first [in your group] to have a chance," Lopes told BBC prior to their match against Libya. "This time, if you finish first, you're in."
Cameroon, on the other hand, will need to navigate both African and inter-confederation play-offs to potentially extend their record of World Cup appearances. Despite their five-time Afcon victories, their campaign was marred by poor away performances, resulting in draws against Libya, Angola, and Eswatini.
Cape Verde's success is a testament to its strategic approach to football, relying on foreign-based players and its diaspora to bolster its national team. Shamrock Rovers defender Lopes, whose father hails from Sao Nicolau, shared his journey to the national team via a LinkedIn approach, underscoring the nation's global search for talent.
The current team lacks players from Europe's top leagues, with leading scorer Livramento playing for Casa Pia in Portugal's Primeira Liga. After the victory, Lopes returned to Ireland, anticipating the birth of his first child and hoping to secure a league title with Shamrock Rovers.
Under the steady leadership of coach Bubista since January 2020, Cape Verde has become a formidable team with a strong defense and skilled players, having made notable performances in Afcon 2023.
Cape Verde's qualification is a historic achievement for the island nation, joining Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, and Ghana as African qualifiers for the upcoming World Cup. Cape Verdeans now eagerly await the World Cup draw in Washington DC, hoping to face some of the world's best teams next year. Meanwhile, Cameroon, finishing four points behind Cape Verde, awaits the conclusion of the African qualifying group stage to determine their play-off fate.