Cape Verde reaches the final for the first time

Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time, qualifying for the 2026 finals by defeating Eswatini 3-0.

The Blue Sharks put themselves in the penalty box to qualify from CAF Group D by beating visitors Cameroon 1-0 last month.

The Cape Verde national team ruined its chance to qualify against Libya last Wednesday with a 3-3 draw.

But they made no mistake against winless Eswatini.

Daylon Libramento put Cape Verde ahead three minutes into the second half, before Willy Semedo scored the second goal.

Stopera added a third goal in stoppage time to send the crowd at the National Stadium into a state of jubilation, as Cape Verde became the second-youngest country in history to qualify for the World Cup.

The population of Cape Verde is approximately 525,000 people. Iceland remains the youngest country to qualify for the World Cup, having done so for the first time in 2018.

Cameroon, which drew 0-0 with Angola, will enter the qualifiers.

Namibia will also enter the qualifiers as Group H runner-up despite losing 3-0 to already qualified Tunisia.

Liberia failed to take advantage of Namibia’s defeat, as it tied with Equatorial Guinea 1-1, ending its hopes of qualifying for the first time.