The island nation of Cape Verde has officially qualified for its first-ever FIFA World Cup in a stunning football fairytale. The Blue Sharks secured their historic place by defeating Eswatini 3-0 in their final group match, a victory that allowed them to top their qualifying group. After a tense first half in which both teams seemed evenly matched, second-half goals from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo, and veteran Stopira ensured Cape Verde’s win, igniting celebrations across the archipelago. Finishing with 23 points, four ahead of Cameroon, Cape Verde joins Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, and Ghana as one of nine African qualifiers. The team’s rise is remarkable, considering the archipelago played few international matches 25 years ago.
Aljazeera
