Tears flow as Cape Verde qualify for their first FIFA World Cup

Amid emotional scenes at the Estádio Nacional, Cape Verde pulled off one of the most astonishing feats in FIFA World Cup history as they beat Eswatini 3-0 on Monday to qualify for the tournament for the first time.

The island nation of around 525,000 people will become the second smallest country in population terms, after Iceland in 2018, to participate at the tournament after finishing ahead of Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Eswatini and Mauritius in Group D of African qualifying.

Three minutes after the break, Dailon Rocha Livramento broke the deadlock to set the tone for the biggest football feat in the history of the island nation before strikes from Willy Semedo and veteran Stopira completed the beautiful story of the Blue Sharks.

An elated Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes couldn’t hide his joy as they masterminded probably greatest achievement for the country since attaining independence from Portugal in 1975.

“I can’t put into words (what I want) to say – an overwhelming sense of relief, there’s joy, there’s all sorts (of) emotions. It’s an amazing feeling. We did it. This was our goal, our objective, and we did it.

“It means everything to me. Since I was a little boy – and I know it’s the same for the guys in the changing room – since we were all little kids playing football, we dreamed of playing football on the highest stage, and there’s no bigger stage than the (FIFA) World Cup.

To be the first Cape Verdean team here, to lift all the people, the nation, to put them on that stage – there’s no better feeling than that,” added Pico, born in Crumlin to a Cape Verdean father and an Irish mother.

For Steven Moreira, of Major League Soccer outfit Columbus Crew and one of several players born outside the Island, he was full of emotions as the tournament in the USA, his base since 2021.

“Honestly, I don’t realise [at] the moment. That’s just amazing. I can’t explain (it). Honestly, I can’t explain (it). It’s just a lot of emotions right now. I still don’t believe [at] the moment (that) we’re in a (FIFA) World Cup.

“Honestly, when we scored a goal, we knew it would be done because we win here all the time and we never [conceded] a goal. So we knew it, and after (that), the subs, everyone – you can see when we score goals – everyone is just running, [supporting] each other, just [enjoying it]. We’re a family, so when we scored the
goal, we knew it, honestly.

“It’s something amazing. Before I went to Columbus (Crew), in my mind, I wasn’t in the national team moment, so I just decided to go for the African Cup (of Nations) and everything went well for me and for the team, so (it’s) just amazing, especially for me. I play over there (in the US), I have a lot of fun, so it
will honestly be amazing.”

After ten rounds of matches, the Blue Sharks amassed 23 points, four more than Cameroon, who were highly favoured to go through based on their pedigree.

Cape Verde announced themselves to African football with qualification to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the knockout stage on their debut.

The Islanders will be looking forward to the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 5 December 2025 in Washington DC.