The air around Cape Verde is buzzing, thick with a dream that feels almost tangible. This island nation’s football team, affectionately known as the Blue Sharks, stands on the cusp of making history. They are just two games away from securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup, a feat that would send ripples of joy across the archipelago.
Right now, the Blue Sharks lead Group D of the African qualifiers. They’ve stacked up 19 points, a comfortable four points ahead of Cameroon. The path to the World Cup could clear as early as tomorrow. If they beat Libya away, they’re in. A draw also works, as long as Cameroon doesn’t win their match in Mauritius. Even if things don’t align perfectly tomorrow, they still have one last chance. That final game will be at home on Monday against Eswatini, a perfect stage for a national celebration.
This week holds the potential to be truly golden for Cape Verdean sports. The team gathered in Lisbon yesterday, kicking off their final preparations. Coach Bubista led their first training session before the squad flew to Tripoli. They will play their hearts out tomorrow afternoon, fueled by an extraordinary ambition. Cape Verde dreams of becoming the smallest country by land area ever to compete in a World Cup. At 4,033 square kilometers, they are smaller than Trinidad and Tobago, who held the record since 2006 with 5,131 square kilometers. The nation also hopes to be the second least populated, with just over 590,000 residents. Only Iceland, with its 334,000 people in 2018, would be smaller.
The squad includes several players who ply their trade in Portugal. Names like Vozinha (Chaves), Stopira (Torreense), Signy Cabral (E. Amadora), Yannick Semedo (Farense), Telmo Arcanjo (V. Guimarães), and Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia) carry the nation’s hopes. Former captain Marco Soares spoke to Lusa Agency, reminding everyone of the weight on their shoulders. “They must feel the positive energy coming from the entire Cape Verdean nation,” he explained. “They need to feel the trust the people have in them.” He emphasized the 180 minutes ahead. “This is their chance to bring joy to many Cape Verdeans who have known hardship. They want nothing more than to say Cape Verde is in the World Cup. It’s a good kind of pressure. All they need to do is be themselves out there.”
Angola’s New Coach Takes the Helm
While Cape Verde chases its dream, other Portuguese-speaking nations in Africa are also competing. Angola still has an outside shot at second place in its group. Only the top four second-placed teams across Africa will move on to an intercontinental playoff. For Angola, this path looks almost impossible. Tomorrow, they visit Eswatini, marking the debut for their new French coach, Patrice Beaumelle. He recently took over from Portuguese coach Pedro Gonçalves.
Mozambique, currently third in Group G with 15 points, also retains a chance to qualify. They will host Guinea Conakry on Thursday. Guinea-Bissau faces a tougher challenge; they are fourth in Group A with 10 points and visit Ethiopia tomorrow. São Tomé and Príncipe, unfortunately, has already been eliminated from contention, having earned no points in Group H.