Key Takeaways:
- Cape Verde qualified for their first FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 win against Eswatini in Praia
- Cape Verde finished Group D on 23 points, four points above Cameroon, who managed only a 0-0 draw with Angola
- Second-half goals from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo, and veteran Stopira sealed the historic achievement
Decisive Final Group Encounter in Praia
Cape Verde completed a dream qualification campaign for the FIFA 2026 World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Eswatini in their final group match on Monday. Entering the fixture two points clear of Cameroon at the top of Group D, Cape Verde overcame early nerves and a subdued first half before taking charge after the interval. The win, secured in the capital city of Praia, saw the West African archipelago finish the group stage with 23 points, four ahead of Cameroon, whose goalless draw with Angola cost them top spot.
🚨 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Cape Verde 🇨🇻 have qualified for the 2026 World Cup for the 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝑯𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑹𝒀 🤩
With a population of just 590,000 they are also the second smallest nation to qualify for a World Cup finals (after Iceland) – what an… pic.twitter.com/zxgLDiXDxu
— 433 (@433) October 13, 2025
Second-half Surge: Key Goals and Emotional Moments
After a cagey opening 45 minutes that offered little for the home supporters, Dailon Livramento opened the scoring just three minutes into the second half by finishing from close range as Eswatini struggled to clear their lines. Willy Semedo doubled the advantage six minutes later with a straightforward tap-in, extending Cape Verde’s control over proceedings.
The evening culminated in a special moment as 37-year-old Stopira, introduced late as a tribute to his long service since 2008, netted a stoppage-time goal to put the result beyond doubt. The island’s 600,000 residents had received a public holiday to back their team, and celebrations erupted across Praia following the breakthrough.
Historic Context and Africa’s Representatives
This achievement marks Cape Verde’s first-ever appearance at a FIFA World Cup, an extraordinary development given that the nation had played little international football as recently as 25 years ago. With a population of 600,000, Cape Verde is now the second-smallest nation to reach the tournament, following Iceland’s participation in Russia in 2018. They join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, and Ghana, who had already booked their places for next year’s finals in North America.
Playoff Picture and Reaction Elsewhere
Although Cameroon, with eight prior World Cup appearances (the most by any African nation), fell short of direct qualification, they remain in contention for one of the four play-off spots reserved for the best runners-up from the nine African groups. Their home draw with Angola saw frustration from fans in Yaounde, as 39-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Marques made several crucial saves to deny the hosts.
Lopes celebrates his side’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with supporters at Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia, Cape Verde.
