Cape Verde made history on Monday by booking their first-ever ticket to the FIFA World Cup, while Cameroon were held at home by Angola, suffering a major setback in their playoff hopes.
The Blue Sharks became the sixth African nation to seal a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, and Ghana. The island nation completed their dream qualification campaign in style, defeating Eswatini 3–0 at the National Stadium in Praia.
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Needing a win to secure top spot in Group D, Cape Verde endured a frustrating first half marked by nerves and missed opportunities. The breakthrough came shortly after the restart when Dailon Rocha Livramento opened the scoring, followed by Willy Semedo’s quick-fire strike to double the lead. Veteran defender Stopira sealed the victory in stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations among fans and players alike.
Elsewhere in Group D, Cameroon were held to a goalless draw by Angola in Yaoundé — a result that dented their playoff ambitions. The Indomitable Lions, who needed all three points to stay in contention, now face an anxious wait as the runners-up rankings are finalized on Tuesday.
In other matches, Tunisia continued their dominance in Group H, wrapping up their campaign with a commanding 3–0 win over Namibia at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium. Goals from Ali Abdi, Hannibal Mejbri, and Ferjani Sassi ensured the Carthage Eagles finished unbeaten — with nine wins from ten matches and no goals conceded.
Elsewhere, Lesotho edged Zimbabwe 1–0 in Polokwane courtesy of Hlompho Kalake’s late winner, while Sao Tome and Principe earned a rare World Cup qualifying victory, defeating Malawi 1–0 through Ronaldo Lumungo’s penalty. Equatorial Guinea and Liberia played out a 1–1 draw in Malabo, while South Sudan vs Togo and Mauritius vs Libya both ended goalless.
Monday’s Results (October 13, 2025):
South Sudan 0–0 Togo
Tunisia 3–0 Namibia
Equatorial Guinea 1–1 Liberia
Sao Tome & Principe 1–0 Malawi
Mauritius 0–0 Libya
Cameroon 0–0 Angola
Cape Verde 3–0 Eswatini
Lesotho 1–0 Zimbabwe
Matchday 10 concludes on Tuesday, October 14, with 11 decisive fixtures, including crucial ties involving Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, Nigeria, and South Africa.
