Cape Verde made history on Monday by securing their first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a 3-0 victory over Eswatini. The win marked a proud moment for the island nation, which will represent Africa on football’s biggest stage for the very first time.
With this achievement, Cape Verde became the smallest African country by population to reach the World Cup. The nation, located off the coast of Senegal, has around 550,000 residents. Despite its size, the team displayed determination and unity throughout the qualifiers.
The Blue Sharks topped Group D with 23 points, finishing four points ahead of Cameroon. Cameroon, who hold the record for the most World Cup appearances by an African team with eight, were held to a goalless draw by Angola in Yaounde.
After a goalless first half, Cape Verde took control early in the second half. Dailon Livramento opened the scoring in the 48th minute with his fourth goal of the qualifiers. Six minutes later, Willy Semedo doubled the lead with a close-range finish. Substitute Stopira sealed the win in stoppage time, capitalizing on a loose ball to make it 3-0.
The team’s success reflects its diverse background, with many players born abroad to Cape Verdean parents or grandparents. Livramento was born in Rotterdam, while Semedo hails from near Paris. The current squad features players based in Portugal, the United States, Ireland, the UAE, and several European leagues.
Eswatini struggled throughout the qualifiers, managing only three draws and losing seven matches. Their defensive 5-4-1 setup failed to stop the energetic Blue Sharks in Praia.
The historic qualification capped off a remarkable turnaround for Cape Verde, who had started the campaign slowly with a draw against Angola and a heavy 4-1 loss to Cameroon. From that point, they built momentum to achieve their dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup.
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