Libya’s World Cup qualifying hopes were thrown into chaos after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Cape Verde, a game that has now been dominated by controversy surrounding the home side’s goalkeeper.
The Libyans appeared on course for a crucial win after racing into an early lead inside the opening minute when defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
Telmo Arcanjo drew Cape Verde level midway through the first half, but Ezoo El Mariamy restored Libya’s advantage just before the break.
The hosts extended their lead through Mahmoud Al Shilw’s stunning long-range free kick in the 58th minute, sparking wild celebrations in Tripoli. But what followed left fans furious.
With 14 minutes to play, a hopeful ball from Sidny Cabral inexplicably slipped through the legs of Libyan goalkeeper Murad Al Wuheeshi, gifting Cape Verde a lifeline.
The blunder stunned the stadium and opened the floodgates.
Six minutes later, Willy Semedo capitalized on poor defending to level the score at 3-3.
The result dealt a heavy blow to Libya’s qualification ambitions and sparked outrage among supporters, many of whom have taken to social media to question the goalkeeper’s performance and demand answers.
Libya now face Mauritius in their final Group D fixture, while Cape Verde will host Eswatini on Monday as they chase a historic first-ever World Cup appearance
