Cape Verde has achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the men’s World Cup for the first time. This accomplishment came after a decisive 30 victory against Eswatini on Monday at the National Stadium in Praia. Goals from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo, and Stopira secured the win and topped Group D of the African qualification process.
Cape Verde’s Historic World Cup Qualification
The island nation, home to approximately 525,000 residents, is now the second smallest country ever to qualify for a World Cup, following Iceland, which participated in the 2018 tournament. Cape Verde concludes the qualification phase with a significant fourpoint lead over secondplace Cameroon.
Qualification Details
- Final Match: Cape Verde 3, Eswatini 0
- Goals Scored:
- Dailon Livramento
- Willy Semedo
- Stopira (37 years old)
- Group D Standing: Cape Verde topped with a total of 10 points.
- Key Matches:
- Cameroon drew 00 with Angola
- Cape Verde drew 33 with Libya
- Cape Verde lost 41 to Cameroon
This victory marked a turning point for Cape Verde, especially after their previous nearmiss in 2014 when they lost to Uruguay in the intercontinental playoffs. The team has demonstrated significant growth and skill, finding a solid balance despite grouping with football powerhouses like Nigeria and Cameroon.
Player Contributions
Cape Verde’s roster includes players from various leagues, with notable names such as:
- Ryan Mendes, the captain, and leading scorer with 21 goals in 85 appearances, plays for Turkish club Kocaelispor.
- Logan Costa, a defender for Villarreal, is the only player actively competing in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
- Bebe, a former Manchester United player, currently plays in Spain for Ibiza.
Upcoming World Cup Changes and Expectations
As the 2026 World Cup prepares to expand to 48 teams, Cape Verde aims to make a mark in competitions set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They are among three nations making their World Cup debut, joining Uzbekistan and Jordan.
Cape Verde has also shown prowess in the African Cup of Nations, qualifying for four of the last seven tournaments and reaching the quarterfinals in 2013 and 2023. However, they missed out on qualifying for the upcoming edition in Morocco.
The journey to World Cup qualification has been remarkable for Cape Verde, a testament to their strategic recruitment and development under head coach Bubista.