Cape Verde have etched their name in football history, becoming the second-smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after a commanding 3-0 victory over Eswatini in Praia.
The Blue Sharks secured top spot in Group D and a place at the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, finishing ahead of continental giants Cameroon in a remarkable qualifying campaign.
Joyous scenes erupted at the 15,000-capacity National Stadium as the final whistle confirmed Cape Verde’s historic achievement, with President Jose Maria Neves among those celebrating the island nation’s greatest sporting moment.
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After a tense first half that saw the home crowd endure several near-misses, Cape Verde found their breakthrough early in the second period. Dailon Livramento opened the scoring just three minutes after the restart, turning home a loose ball inside the six-yard box to spark passionate celebrations.
The floodgates opened shortly after when Willy Semedo volleyed in a second goal, converting Diney’s knockdown to double the advantage. Veteran defender Stopira added gloss to the scoreline with a third in stoppage time, sealing a comprehensive victory over winless Eswatini.
The first half had tested nerves, with Livramento sending an effort wide and Jamiro Monteiro being denied by Eswatini goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala. But once the deadlock was broken, Cape Verde’s quality shone through.
“A Journey Decades in the Making”
An archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean with a population of just under 525,000 according to World Bank figures, Cape Verde gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and first attempted World Cup qualification for the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.
The nation’s football renaissance has been building steadily. The Blue Sharks have punched above their weight at the Africa Cup of Nations in recent years, reaching the quarter-finals on their debut in 2013 and repeating that achievement in 2023. They currently sit 70th in the FIFA world rankings.
Only Iceland, who featured at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has qualified for the global showpiece with a smaller population.
Cape Verde put themselves in the driving seat last month with a stunning 1-0 home victory over Cameroon in the capital, knowing that one win from their final two matches would secure qualification.
Their first opportunity came last Wednesday against Libya, but the Blue Sharks were denied in dramatic fashion. After fighting back from two goals down to draw 3-3 in Tripoli, they had an almost certain stoppage-time winner ruled out by a controversial offside call.
However, the setback proved only temporary. Against Eswatini, the Cape Verdeans made no mistake with their second chance, becoming the sixth African nation to book their ticket to the 2026 finals.
For a nation that attempted their first World Cup qualification just over two decades ago, reaching the sport’s grandest stage represents an extraordinary accomplishment. Cape Verde’s success story mirrors that of other small nations who have defied the odds to compete on football’s biggest platform.
The Blue Sharks will now prepare to face the world’s elite when the expanded 48-team tournament kicks off across North America next year, writing a new chapter in their remarkable football journey.
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