Cabo Verde Makes History, Qualifies for FIFA World Cup for the First Time
Blue Sharks Seal 3-0 Win Over Eswatini, Topple African Giants Cameroon to Book World Cup Spot
Praia, Oct 14 – Cabo Verde have secured their first-ever FIFA World Cup berth after a dominant 3-0 victory over Eswatini, clinching the top spot in Group D ahead of African powerhouse Cameroon. The island nation, home to just over 500,000 people, becomes the second-least populous country to reach the World Cup, after Iceland in 2018.
The historic win sparked jubilation at Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde. After a tightly contested first half, the Blue Sharks broke the deadlock when Dailon Livramento converted from close range following a cross from Yannick Semedo. Willy Semedo doubled the lead with a clinical finish, and veteran Stopira capped the victory, delighting fans with a goal in his final years with the national team.
Cabo Verde’s journey to the World Cup included a remarkable streak of five consecutive wins, highlighted by a memorable 1-0 home triumph over Cameroon last month. Despite a challenging draw against Libya earlier, they maintained control of their destiny and sealed qualification with a confident performance against Eswatini.
The team now awaits the FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage draw, scheduled for December 5 in Washington, D.C., where they will learn their first-ever opponents on the global stage.
