Cape Verde have made history by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, becoming the second-smallest nation to achieve the feat after defeating Eswatini 3-0 in Praia.
The emphatic win saw the Blue Sharks top their qualifying group ahead of African giants, Cameroon, sealing their spot at the 2026 World Cup which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Dailon Livramento opened the scoring early in the second half after reacting quickly to a loose ball inside the six-yard box, before Willy Semedo doubled the lead minutes later with a fine volley. Defender Stopira completed the rout in stoppage time, sparking euphoric celebrations inside the 15,000-capacity National Stadium.
Cape Verde, an island nation of about 525,000 people off the coast of West Africa, gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and began its World Cup qualifying journey in 2002.
Over the years, the Blue Sharks have emerged as one of Africa’s most remarkable football stories, reaching the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on debut in 2013 and repeating the feat in 2023. They currently sit 70th in FIFA’s world rankings.
Cape Verde’s road to qualification was defined by resilience. Last month’s crucial 1-0 win over Cameroon placed them in control of Group D, needing just one more victory to make history. However, a dramatic 3-3 draw with Libya last Wednesday delayed their celebrations after a late goal was controversially ruled offside.
President José Maria Neves was among the jubilant crowd as Cape Verde weathered a nervy first half, with Livramento and Jamiro Monteiro both denied by Eswatini goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala. But once Livramento broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half, the atmosphere shifted to pure joy.
As Semedo and Stopira added to the tally, the final whistle confirmed Cape Verde’s place among the world’s football elite — a remarkable triumph for one of the smallest nations ever to grace the World Cup stage.
The emphatic win saw the Blue Sharks top their qualifying group ahead of African giants, Cameroon, sealing their spot at the 2026 World Cup which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Dailon Livramento opened the scoring early in the second half after reacting quickly to a loose ball inside the six-yard box, before Willy Semedo doubled the lead minutes later with a fine volley. Defender Stopira completed the rout in stoppage time, sparking euphoric celebrations inside the 15,000-capacity National Stadium.
Cape Verde, an island nation of about 525,000 people off the coast of West Africa, gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and began its World Cup qualifying journey in 2002.
Over the years, the Blue Sharks have emerged as one of Africa’s most remarkable football stories, reaching the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on debut in 2013 and repeating the feat in 2023. They currently sit 70th in FIFA’s world rankings.
Cape Verde’s road to qualification was defined by resilience. Last month’s crucial 1-0 win over Cameroon placed them in control of Group D, needing just one more victory to make history. However, a dramatic 3-3 draw with Libya last Wednesday delayed their celebrations after a late goal was controversially ruled offside.
President José Maria Neves was among the jubilant crowd as Cape Verde weathered a nervy first half, with Livramento and Jamiro Monteiro both denied by Eswatini goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala. But once Livramento broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half, the atmosphere shifted to pure joy.
As Semedo and Stopira added to the tally, the final whistle confirmed Cape Verde’s place among the world’s football elite — a remarkable triumph for one of the smallest nations ever to grace the World Cup stage.
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