CAPE VERDE made history as they qualified for the 2026 World Cup in heroic fashion.
The African island country defeated Eswatini 3-0 in their last qualifier at their national stadium in their country’s capital city of Praia.
Tension mounted among the home fans at half-time as the score remained goalless but the ground came unglued just three minutes into the second half.
That was when Dailon Livramento broke the deadlock to realise the nation’s wild dream of making it to the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Willy Semedo and Stopira also got on the scoresheet to seal Cape Verde’s place in the competition.
Wild celebrations erupted around the country as Bubista’s men condemned African giants Cameroon to the playoffs.
That means Manchester United aces Bryan Mbeumo and Andre Onana, who currently plays on loan at Trabzonspor, will have extra work and pressure to make it to the World Cup.
Cape Verde won seven out of their 10 qualifiers and lost only once to Cameroon.
And they made history as they became the second least populated country to ever make it to the World Cup.
Cape Verde’s population of 593,149 puts them only behind Iceland’s 391,810, seven years after they made the competition in Russia.
The archipelagic state are also the smallest nation by area to qualify for the elite tournament.
A total of 4,000 square km spread over 10 islands in Cape Verde beats the record set by Trinidad and Tobago with its 5,000 square km in the 2006 World Cup.
If England win at Latvia on Tuesday then they will join Cape Verde to the World Cup.
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