Cape Verde and Libya Draw 3-3 as Blue Sharks Miss Historic World Cup Chance

Basio badr

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Cape Verde and Libya Draw 3-3 as Blue Sharks Miss Historic World Cup Chance

Cape Verde and Libya played to a dramatic 3-3 draw, forcing Cape Verde to miss a historic opportunity for World Cup qualification. The match, held recently, was a pivotal moment for both teams in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cape Verde’s Near Miss in World Cup Qualification

Entering the match, Cape Verde held aspirations of reaching the World Cup for the first time. A win against Libya would have secured their place in the tournament. As the match progressed, they found themselves trailing 3-1 before mounting a remarkable comeback.

Key Moments of the Match

Early Lead: Libya got off to a fast start, with Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes scoring an own goal just 46 seconds into the game.
Equalizer: Cape Verde equalized through Telmo Arcanjo in the 30th minute.
Libya’s Response: Ezoo El Mariamy scored before halftime, putting Libya back in the lead.
Third Goal: Mahmoud Al Shilw extended Libya’s lead to 3-1 with a stunning long-range free-kick in the 58th minute.
Comeback Efforts: Cape Verde rebounded after a mistake by Libya’s goalkeeper, allowing Sidny Cabral’s long ball to trickle into the net, reducing the lead to 3-2.
Final Equalizer: Willy Semedo scored the equalizer in the 84th minute, pulling the teams level at 3-3.

Controversy and Consequences

The drama intensified in the sixth minute of injury time when Cape Verde thought they had scored to clinch a 4-3 victory. However, a controversial offside call was made, much to the dismay of Cape Verde’s players and coaching staff. Without the aid of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in African qualifiers, they had to settle for a draw.

As the match concluded, Cape Verde topped Group D with 20 points, followed closely by Cameroon with 18 points. To secure their World Cup spot, Cape Verde must defeat Eswatini in their next game. Meanwhile, Libya’s hopes for qualification have dimmed with this draw.

Looking Ahead

The next match is crucial for both teams. Cape Verde has a chance to make history by qualifying for the World Cup, while Libya will need to reassess its strategy moving forward. The stakes remain high as the qualifying campaign continues to unfold.