Epic Moments as Small African Nation of 550,000 Achieves World Cup Dream Fulfillment

Cape Verde’s football team has made history by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup for the first time. The small island nation, with a population of approximately 550,000, secured its spot by defeating Eswatini 3-0. This remarkable achievement marks Cape Verde as the smallest African nation in terms of population to reach the prestigious tournament.
Road to World Cup Qualification
Cape Verde topped Group D with a total of 23 points, outperforming Cameroon, which has the most World Cup appearances in Africa, having participated eight times. Cameroon managed only a 0-0 draw against Angola, further solidifying Cape Verde’s place at the World Cup.
Key Match Highlights
- Date: Monday, following the team’s last home match.
- Location: Praia, Cape Verde, with approximately 15,000 enthusiastic fans in attendance.
- First Half: Cape Verde struggled to threaten the goal during the first half.
- Second Half Goals:
- Dailon Livramento scored at 48 minutes, reaching his fourth goal of the qualifiers.
- Willy Semedo followed swiftly, netting another goal just six minutes later.
- Stopira capped off the match with a third goal in injury time.
Both Livramento and Semedo are players with backgrounds outside Cape Verde—Livramento was born in Rotterdam, while Semedo hails from near Paris.
Team Dynamics and Player Distribution
Cape Verde’s squad is diverse, with players based in several countries, including:
- Portugal
- United States
- Republic of Ireland
- UAE
- Romania
- Russia
- Netherlands
- Turkey
- Cyprus
Overcoming Early Challenges
Initially, Cape Verde faced a rough start in the qualifiers. They drew 0-0 with Angola and suffered a 4-1 loss to Cameroon, leaving them with only four points from their first three matches. Nonetheless, the team rallied, achieving five consecutive victories after those setbacks.
Coaching and Future Prospects
Under the guidance of long-serving coach Pedro Leitao Brito, also known as Bubista, Cape Verde has shown resilience. Brito, who took charge in 2020, has previously served as an assistant coach and has led the team into several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Despite a challenging last year in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Cape Verdean officials believed in Brito’s vision. His experience and dedication have now propelled the Blue Sharks onto the world stage, setting up what promises to be an epic moment in their footballing history.
Conclusion
Cape Verde’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup is a significant milestone. It highlights not only the talent present in the small island nation but also the potential for future successes on the global stage.