Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Cabo Verde Reaches First World Cup With 3–0 Win Over Eswatini

A diaspora-powered team built through targeted recruitment capped its rise, prompting a government-declared holiday.

Overview

  • Authorities declared a national holiday as street parties and car parades filled islands across the archipelago.
  • Dailon Livramento scored three minutes into the second half, Willy Semedo added a goal at 54 minutes, and Stopiez finished it at 91.
  • An estimated 15,000 fans packed Estadio Nacional in Praia for the qualification-clinching match.
  • The federation leveraged its global diaspora, with 14 of 25 call-ups born in Europe and defender Roberto Lopes recruited after a LinkedIn message.
  • Cabo Verde topped its qualifying group ahead of Cameroon, sealing a landmark berth at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.