Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
THE Cape Verde Islands are on the brink of making history, sitting just one point away from qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after coming from behind to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Libya this Wednesday.
The Islanders fought back from a 3-1 deficit to earn a crucial draw that keeps them at the top of Group D with 20 points, two clear of Cameroon, who have one match remaining.
Cape Verde will face Eswatini at home on Monday, needing just a single point to qualify for their first-ever World Cup, thanks to a superior head-to-head record against Cameroon.
Should they secure qualification, Cape Verde, with a population of around 600 000, would become the second smallest country after Iceland to reach the World Cup.
The Islanders previously came close to making the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil but were deducted points for fielding a suspended player, which saw them miss out on the playoffs despite reaching the final qualification stages.
