Best Odds Center
best odds centre button
Click here!
Sport TV
watch live tv button
Click here!
to watch
Live FootBall
NPFL
Click here!
Live Scores
play watch Live Score button
Click here!

Cape Verde Makes Historic World Cup Debut

Posted : 13 October 2025

Cape Verde qualified for their first-ever World Cup after a 3–0 victory over Eswatini, becoming the second smallest nation to compete in the tournament.

Cape Verde has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, becoming the second smallest nation ever to reach the tournament after Iceland. The 611,000-inhabitant island nation secured their historic debut with a commanding 3–0 home victory over Eswatini, topping Group 4 of the African qualifiers.

 

The excitement was so immense that the government declared a half-day off to allow citizens to witness the historic moment.

 

The Blue Sharks finished their qualifying campaign with 23 points, recording seven wins, two draws, and just one defeat. They ended four points ahead of Cameroon, the African team with the most World Cup appearances, who now must wait to see if they qualify through the playoffs as one of the top four runners-up.

 

Cape Verde had previously drawn 3–3 with Libya, but their consistent performance over the campaign ensured they would make history.

 

The decisive game saw Dalion Liberamento, the team’s top scorer in the qualifiers, open the scoring, followed shortly by a goal from Semedo. Substitute Stuphira sealed the 3–0 victory in stoppage time, bringing jubilation to the islands.

 

Notable players such as Helio Varela and Elson Tavares remained on the bench, while Harry Tavares was left out of the squad.

 

Cape Verde’s rise to the World Cup stage comes less than a decade after their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance in 2013. They have already made four appearances in the continental tournament, reaching the quarter-finals in 2023, where they were narrowly eliminated on penalties against South Africa.

 

With this World Cup qualification, Cape Verde joins other nations like Jordan and Uzbekistan in securing a debut appearance on football’s biggest stage.

 

The expansion of the tournament to 48 teams has allowed smaller nations to dream of competing at the highest level, and Cape Verde has now turned that dream into reality, inspiring other African and Oceanian teams still seeking their first World Cup appearance.

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics

close button
Please fill captcha :