Key Takeaways:
- Cabo Verde played out a 3:3 draw with Libya in an Africa Zone World Cup qualifier
- The Blue Sharks remain Group D leaders with 20 points, holding a two-point advantage over Cameroon
- Cabo Verde must defeat Eswatini on Monday to secure their first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification
Group D Qualification Drama
Cabo Verde’s hopes of booking a place at the FIFA World Cup for the first time were put on hold following a 3:3 stalemate with Libya in Africa Zone qualifying. A win in this fixture would have guaranteed passage and ensured group supremacy for the West African side. The result means the Blue Sharks missed the opportunity to seal Group D with a match to spare, necessitating a crucial final encounter against Eswatini on Monday to pursue their historic World Cup dream.
😮💨 Cape Verde missed a chance to qualify for the World Cup but they did come back to claim a point from 3-1 down in Libya.
Cameroon’s win in Mauritius takes Group D of CAF qualifying to Monday’s final games.
The Blue Sharks face Eswatini while Cameroon play Angola. pic.twitter.com/S2u9vqnA30
— FotMob (@FotMob) October 8, 2025
Despite holding the group summit with 20 points, Cabo Verde’s advantage remains slender, as Cameroon sit just two points behind. A win in this fixture would have guaranteed passage and ensured group supremacy for the West African side. The Indomitable Lions are set to play Angola in their last group fixture, creating a tense finale in the group standings.
Cabo Verde Chasing History
With a population just exceeding 500,000, Cabo Verde would become the second smallest nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup finals if they progress to the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This record currently belongs to Iceland, who reached the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Holding a FIFA world ranking of 70th, Cabo Verde would make their World Cup debut should they qualify, joining fellow potential newcomers Jordan and Uzbekistan. Past underdog qualifiers have included Haiti (1974), Jamaica (1998), and both Angola and Trinidad and Tobago in 2006.
Coach Brito on Nation’s Ambitions
Following the 1:0 triumph over Cameroon in September, head coach Pedro Leitão Brito reflected on the potential impact World Cup qualification could have for Cabo Verde: “Everything will change. More people will want to come here and see how beautiful this country is,” he said.
