Cape Verde have reached the World Cup finals for the first time in their history after a 3-0 victory over Eswatini at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia on Monday secured top spot in Group D.
The Blue Sharks, representing a nation of fewer than 600,000 people, completed an extraordinary qualifying campaign to book their place at this summer’s tournament.
Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo and Stopira all scored after the interval as Cape Verde took control of their own destiny. Cameroon’s 0-0 draw with Angola in Yaoundé, played simultaneously, ultimately proved immaterial as the Blue Sharks wrapped up the group with a convincing performance.
The Indomitable Lions will finish second and must hope for a route through the play-offs, despite having been favourites to win the group.
Cape Verde’s achievement is all the more remarkable given they only appeared at their first Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and were expected to battle for second place behind five-time World Cup participants Cameroon.
But under manager Bubista, the Blue Sharks proved formidable at home, winning four of their five matches in Praia and keeping a clean sheet in all of them. That fortress mentality included a crucial 1-0 victory over Cameroon and helped overcome a 4-1 defeat in Yaoundé.
A capacity crowd arrived with palpable anticipation, knowing victory would guarantee qualification regardless of events in Cameroon. However, they had to endure a frustrating first half as Eswatini employed time-wasting tactics and strong winds made conditions difficult for the hosts.
The breakthrough came within two minutes of the restart. A short corner was whipped into the area and when the Eswatini defence failed to clear, Livramento was on hand to tap home from close range.
Minutes later the job was virtually complete. Another delivery was nodded across the six-yard box for Semedo to fire in the second.
With Eswatini offering little threat, the final half-hour became a prolonged celebration as news filtered through that Cameroon had also failed to score. Veteran defender Stopira added a third in stoppage time to cap a historic occasion.
Elsewhere in the group, Libya and Mauritius played out a goalless draw.
Final Group D standings
- Cape Verde 23pts
- Cameroon 19pts
- Libya 16pts
- Angola 12pts
- Mauritius 6pts
- Eswatini 3pts
