Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks Make History with First-Ever World Cup Qualification
In a historic moment for Cape Verdean football, the Blue Sharks secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after an emphatic 3-0 victory over Eswatini at the National Stadium in Praia on Monday. This marks the first time Cape Verde has qualified for the prestigious tournament, making them the second smallest nation ever to participate, following Iceland in 2018.
Needing a win to guarantee top spot in Group D, Cape Verde faced a tense first half characterized by nerves and a lack of attacking rhythm. However, the team regrouped after the break and broke the deadlock early in the second half through Dailon Rocha Livramento. The goal ignited celebrations among the players and supporters alike. Willy Semedo quickly doubled the lead, putting the Blue Sharks in a commanding position. The atmosphere turned festive as the home crowd celebrated their team’s impending victory. In injury time, veteran Stopira added a third goal, sealing a triumphant night for Cape Verde and sending fans into a frenzy.
Cape Verde’s victory not only secured their qualification but also left Cameroon in a precarious position. The Indomitable Lions were held to a goalless draw against Angola, missing an opportunity to pressure Cape Verde for the top spot in the group. This result could impact Cameroon’s chances in the overall standings as they await the final rankings for the runners-up. In other matches, Mauritius and Libya played to a goalless stalemate, while Zimbabwe suffered their fifth defeat in the qualifiers, falling 1-0 to Lesotho thanks to a late goal from Hlompho Kalake.
In a related match, already-qualified Tunisia showcased their dominance in Group H, wrapping up their campaign with a near-perfect record of nine wins from ten matches, conceding no goals. The Carthage Eagles defeated Namibia 3-0, with goals from Ali Abdi, Hannibal Mejbri, and Ferjani Sassi. Meanwhile, Sao Tome and Principe celebrated their second-ever World Cup qualifying win, defeating Malawi 1-0 with a penalty from Ronaldo Lumungo. The day also featured a draw between Equatorial Guinea and Liberia, and a goalless game between South Sudan and Togo.
As the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers comes to a close, the final day will feature 11 matches across Africa. The spotlight will be on Senegal and Ivory Coast as they chase automatic qualification, while Group C will see a thrilling conclusion as Benin, Nigeria, and South Africa fight for their spots.
