A country off the coast of Senegal, with a population of just 550,000, made history at midnight on the 13th of October, Monday. Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals for the first time.
They won 3-0 at home against Eswatini. Now, the Blue Sharks are top of their qualifying group and have secured a place in the 2026 finals. They are ahead of continental power Cameroon.
The reaction was lively. A carnival-like atmosphere took over the streets of Cape Verde’s capital, Praia.
Group D Champions
Horns blaring and street fireworks greeted the jubilant fans as they emerged from the Cape Verde National Stadium. In their joyous celebration, people danced to reggae tunes and local funana music.
Cape Verde topped Group D with 23 points, four more than Cameroon, one of Africa’s top World Cup teams. Cameroon previously held an African record of eight World Cup appearances.
In that sense, it was a moment of triumph for Cape Verde. Cameroon drew 0-0 with Angola in Yaounde.
Voices of Triumph
“It’s great to give these people this joy… it’s a victory for all the Cape Verdean people and, above all, for those who fought for our independence,” coach Pedro Brito told reporters. “It’s a special moment in this celebration of the 50th anniversary of our independence.”
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was a kid,” said 39-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, getting emotional. “Now it’s time to celebrate.” “We knew we could do better (in the second half) and that’s it… Now it’s time to celebrate.”
Decades of Ambition
The team reached the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in its debut in 2013. It reached the quarterfinals again 10 years later, in 2023. It is currently ranked 70th in the world.
An archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Verde gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and first attempted to reach the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
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