Cape Verde Near Historic World Cup Debut After Shock Win Over Cameroon

Cape Verde took a major step toward a first-ever World Cup appearance after defeating African giants Cameroon 1-0 in Praia on Tuesday.

The victory leaves the island nation, home to fewer than 550,000 people, top of Group D in the 2026 African qualifiers. With 19 points, the Blue Sharks now need just three more from October’s fixtures—away to Libya and at home against Eswatini—to seal a place at the finals.

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Forward Dailon Livramento, who plays in Italy and was born in Rotterdam to Cape Verdean parents, scored the decisive goal in the 54th minute. The 24-year-old has now struck three times in the qualifiers, including a brace against Angola earlier this year.

The result was especially sweet for Cape Verde, who lost 4-1 to Cameroon in Yaoundé last year. It also leaves the Indomitable Lions, Africa’s most frequent World Cup participants with eight appearances, in a precarious position. Cameroon sit second in the group but are only fifth among the best runners-up—just four of whom advance to a play-off mini-tournament for a chance at the intercontinental play-offs next March.

The turnaround is remarkable for Cape Verde, who had finished bottom of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group with just one win. The team is led by coach Pedro “Bubista” Brito, 55, and captained by 35-year-old Ryan Mendes, who plays in Turkey. Ranked 73rd in the world, Cape Verde trail Cameroon by 22 places in the FIFA standings but now stand on the verge of history.

Elsewhere in African qualifying, Senegal staged a dramatic comeback in Kinshasa, overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2. Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa put the hosts ahead before a late surge, capped by Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr’s winner, sent Senegal top of Group B. Victory in their final two matches would secure a third consecutive World Cup appearance.

Nigeria, meanwhile, are in danger of missing a second straight World Cup. The Super Eagles drew 1-1 away to South Africa, leaving them six points adrift in Group C. An own goal by captain William Troost-Ekong and a header from Calvin Bassey provided the scoring. Nigeria’s qualification hopes now likely rest on finishing second and advancing through the play-offs.

In Group A, Egypt missed the chance to book their ticket early, drawing 0-0 with Burkina Faso. The Pharaohs, however, need only two more points from their final fixtures to confirm their place in North America in 2026.