Cape Verde secure historic World Cup qualification with home victory

After a scoreless first half, Cape Verde sprinted out of the gates following halftime to score twice in ten minutes and secure qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their first-ever qualification, with a 3-0 result over Eswatini on Monday in Praia.

📞 Hallo, Mundial 2026? Aqui vai Cabo Verde 🇨🇻 🦈#sporttvportugal #QualificaçãoMundial2026 #CaboVerde pic.twitter.com/qnvl5kZ54J

— sport tv (@sporttvportugal) October 13, 2025

A packed Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde waited with palpable anticipation for their team to get the victory they needed against eliminated Eswatini but the visitors did not make it easy. Time wasting tactics and a strong wind against the hosts allowed the visitors to keep the match scoreless following a dull first half.

However, a rejuvenated Cape Verde team came out for the second half and it took less than two minutes for the breakthrough. A short corner kick resulted in a cross that the Eswatini defense struggled to deal with and the ball fell kindly for Dailon Livramento, who was left with a simple finish from close range to put the Blue Sharks ahead.

O sonho está cada vez mais perto, VAMOS TUBARÕES AZUIS 🇨🇻 🦈#sporttvportugal #QualificaçãoMundial2026 #CaboVerde pic.twitter.com/QQgdNAEVW0

— sport tv (@sporttvportugal) October 13, 2025

Minutes later, the job was all but done when another cross was nodded across the six-yard box to Willy Semedo who fired in the second goal.

Eswatini failed to create any danger on the other end, leaving the final half hour of the match for the supporters to celebrate as the full time whistle approached. Veteran defender Stopira added one more goal for the hosts in stoppage time to further add to the historic occasion.

Apito final e o Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde vai ao rubro 🤩🤩#sporttvportugal #QualificaçãoMundial2026 #CaboVerde pic.twitter.com/tcVbhvmW5a

— sport tv (@sporttvportugal) October 13, 2025

In the other matches from the group on Monday, Cameroon and Angola played to a 0-0 draw in Yaoundé for a result that will likely be just enough for the Indomitable Lions to advance to the four-team playoff for the group runners-up. Libya and Mauritius played to a 0-0 draw as well to finish up their fixtures.

2026 World Cup: Final Group D Table

1. Cape Verde- 23 points
2. Cameroon- 19 points
3. Libya- 16 points
4. Angola- 12 points
5. Mauritius- 6 points
6. Eswatini- 3 points

Table of Group Runners-up (Top 4 advance to playoff)

1. Gabon- 16 points (1 game in hand)
2. Cameroon- 15 points (GD: +9)
3. Burkina Faso- 15 points (GD: +6)
4. Niger- 15 points (GD: +1)
5. DR Congo- 13 points (GD: +4) [1 game in hand]
6. Madagascar- 13 points (eliminated)
7. Uganda- 12 points (GD: +3) [1 game in hand]
8. South Africa- 11 points (GD: +1) [1 game in hand]
9. Namibia- 9 points (eliminated)