In a historic moment for the nation, Cape Verde has secured its first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification, booking their place at the 2026 tournament. The Blue Sharks' victory over Eswatini, coupled with Cameroon's draw against Angola, cemented their position at the top of CAF qualifying Group D, sparking celebrations across the island nation.
Cape Verde defeated Eswatini 3-0 at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia. Goals from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo, and Stopira in the second half sealed the victory, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Livramento opened the scoring in the 48th minute, followed by Semedo six minutes later, and Stopira added the final touch in added time.
The victory was particularly sweet as it denied Cameroon, who hold the African record for World Cup appearances with eight, a direct spot in the tournament. Cameroon's 0-0 draw with Angola in Yaounde meant that even a win would not have been enough to overtake Cape Verde. The Indomitable Lions now face the prospect of navigating the CAF play-offs and an inter-confederation play-off to reach the World Cup.
Cape Verde's journey to the World Cup has been remarkable. The nation, with a population of just over 500,000, becomes the second-least populous country to qualify for the global finals, after Iceland in 2018. Furthermore, with an area of just over 4,000 km², Cape Verde is the smallest nation to qualify for the tournament, surpassing Trinidad and Tobago's record from 2006.
The Blue Sharks' success is built on a foundation of solid defense and a resilient team spirit. Coached by former Cape Verde international Bubista, the team has displayed quality and tactical organization throughout the campaign. Their qualification journey included a run of five successive victories, highlighted by a 1-0 home win against Cameroon. Although they stumbled with a 3-3 draw against Libya, they bounced back to secure the crucial win against Eswatini.
The team's achievement has sparked a deep sense of national pride, symbolizing unity and hope for the new generation. The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams presented an opportunity, and Cape Verde seized it with ambition and careful planning. Investments in infrastructure and youth development have also contributed to the growth of Cape Verdean football.
Several players in the Cape Verde squad were born outside the nation, highlighting the team's diverse makeup. Dailon Livramento was born in Rotterdam, and Willy Semedo near Paris. The team also draws players from leagues in Portugal, the United States, Ireland, the UAE, Romania, Russia, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Cyprus. Key players such as Ryan Mendes, the program's all-time leading scorer, Vozinha, Stopira, and Garry Rodrigues have been instrumental in the team's success.
Cape Verde's qualification marks a turning point in the nation's sporting history. The Blue Sharks now look forward to the FIFA World Cup 26™ group-stage draw in Washington DC on December 5th, ready to make their mark on the world stage.
