Cape Verde made history on Monday by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time with a decisive 3-0 home victory over Eswatini. The win secured the top spot in their African qualifying group ahead of continental regulars Cameroon, making the island nation of just under 600,000 people the second-smallest country ever to reach the tournament, after Iceland in 2018.
After a tense and goalless first half in the capital city of Praia, Dailon Livramento broke the deadlock three minutes after the restart. Willy Semedo quickly doubled the lead six minutes later, before veteran substitute Stopira sealed the historic victory with a third goal deep in stoppage time, sparking jubilant celebrations at the national stadium and across the archipelago.
The victory triggered a carnival-like atmosphere as fans poured onto the streets. Coach Pedro Brito, known as Bubista, highlighted the achievement's timing with the country's 50th independence anniversary. "Giving this happiness to these people is enormous... it's a victory for all the Cape Verdean people and, above all, a victory for those who fought for our independence," he said. Captain Ryan Mendes added, "Honestly, I don't have the words to describe this moment. I'm very, very happy."
The Blue Sharks' path to qualification was remarkable, recovering from a rocky start that included a loss to Cameroon to win five consecutive matches. The team relies heavily on a global diaspora, with many players born outside the country to Cape Verdean parents or grandparents. Their success has been built on stability under coach Bubista, who has been in charge since 2020.
Cape Verde becomes the sixth African nation to secure its place at the 2026 World Cup, joining Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Ghana. Their success was aided by the expanded 48-team tournament format, which increased Africa's guaranteed qualification spots from five to nine. While Cape Verde celebrates its historic achievement, eight-time qualifiers Cameroon were held to a goalless draw by Angola and will now likely have to navigate the playoffs to keep their own World Cup hopes alive.