Cape Verde Achieves Historic World Cup Qualification
Small Island Nation Makes a Major Soccer Breakthrough
Cape Verde has made a notable entry into soccer history, becoming the second-smallest country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after securing a 3-0 victory over Eswatini at home.
The triumph allowed the Blue Sharks to clinch first place in their qualifying group, ahead of more renowned teams like Cameroon, thus earning their spot at the upcoming 2026 tournament.
Dailon Livramento kicked off the scoring for the hosts early in the second half by converting a loose ball, followed swiftly by a volley from Willy Semedo. The match concluded with veteran defender Stopira scoring a third goal during injury time, leading to jubilant celebrations in the 15,000-seat National Stadium.
Cape Verde, comprising ten islands in the Atlantic with a population of nearly 525,000, gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and made its initial attempt to qualify for the World Cup in 2002.
Recent years have seen the team perform well in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), reaching the quarter-finals on their debut in 2013 and again in 2023. Currently, they hold the 70th position in the global rankings. Iceland, which qualified for the 2014 World Cup, remains the only smaller nation to make the cut.
Last month, Cape Verde’s home win against Cameroon put them in a leading position for Group D qualification. After a draw with Libya earlier this month, where they fought back from two goals down only to be denied a late winner by a contentious offside decision, they met Eswatini knowing victory would guarantee their berth in the finals.
The excitement of the match was palpable, especially for Cape Verde’s President, Jose Maria Neves, who attended as fans endured a tense first half with missed opportunities. The breakthrough came just three minutes into the second half, igniting enthusiastic reactions from the crowd when Livramento scored.
Embracing Global Connections
Cape Verde’s rise in football is reflective of a growing tourism sector and an increasing reliance on players from the diaspora. With the domestic league limited to 12 teams, the Blue Sharks have tapped into the global Portuguese-speaking community to expand their squad.
Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes emphasizes this connection, sharing his experience of being recruited via LinkedIn. Many players now pursue opportunities beyond their homeland, showing the potential of Cape Verdeans worldwide.
Despite not having any players from Europe’s top leagues, the leading scorer in their qualification campaign, Livramento, competes for Casa Pia, currently placed 14th in Portugal’s top league.
Stability in Coaching
Under the guidance of coach Bubista, who has led the team since January 2020, Cape Verde has cultivated a stable and disciplined squad. Bubista, a former international player, has assembled a side characterized by a strong defense, skilled midfielders, and talented forwards, achieving noteworthy results against bigger teams like Ghana and Egypt in AFCON 2023.
While the national federation supported Bubista after they failed to qualify for the latest AFCON, the team now looks forward to the World Cup draw scheduled in Washington, D.C., on December 4. Cape Verde joins fellow African nations Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, and Ghana in securing spots for the upcoming finals.
In contrast, Cameroon, despite their illustrious World Cup history with eight appearances, finished four points behind Cape Verde and now faces challenges in inter-confederation playoffs to secure a seat at the tournament.
Cape Verde’s upward trajectory in football is a testament to their hard work and unity as they prepare to compete on one of the largest stages in sports.
