The Cape Verde Islands are one win away from a World Cup place that confirms the promise they have shown in recent years but would have been scarcely believable 20 years ago.

The wind-swept island archipelago, off the west coast of Africa, with a population of around 600,000, will become the second smallest country after Iceland to qualify if they win one of their last two qualifiers over the next week.

They are away to Libya on Wednesday before a home clash with Eswatini on Monday in which to ensure top spot in Group D and beat much-fancied Cameroon to the automatic qualifying spot for next year’s tournament in North America.

Cape Verde reached the last stages of qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but were deducted points for erroneously fielding a suspended player, thereby missing out on the playoffs where they would also have been two games away from reaching the finals.

In their debut Africa Cup of Nations finals appearance in 2013, Cape Verde reached the quarter-finals, prompting their coach to burst into song at the post-match press conference, and they did so again at the last edition in the Ivory Coast, unlucky to be eliminated on penalties.

Two decades ago, however, they had barely played any international football, averaging two games a year from 1986, when they joined FIFA, to 1990 when they competed in the World Cup qualifiers for the first time ranked 182nd in the world.

The progress since has been rapid, driven by actively finding players from the Diaspora around the world.

TALENT IDENTIFICATION PAYING OFF

“The football association devised new strategies around identifying and recruiting talent throughout the large Cape Verdean communities,” said U.S.-based agent Tony Araujo, who was born on the islands and worked closely with the team over decades.

“The talent identification and global recruitment process started to pay off huge dividends around 2013, when they qualified for their first Cup of Nations final.”

Scarce natural resources and an arid landscape have long caused migration from the islands, stretching back to the Portuguese colonial period.

Migrants left in droves for Portugal as well as other destinations, like the U.S. eastern seaboard and Dutch port of Rotterdam.

The squad for this week’s fixtures has six Dutch-born players plus others born in Portugal, France, and Ireland. Shamrock Rovers’ Roberto “Pico” Lopes, who will play in central defence, was among many scouted and approached, some more creatively than others.

“I set up a LinkedIn profile when I was in college but never really looked at it,” Lopes told Reuters.

“I got a message from the then coach Rui Aguas, but he wrote to me in Portuguese. I thought it was spam and took no notice.

“Then about nine months later, he messaged me back, saying, ‘Hi Roberto, have you had a chance to consider what I said to you?’ I copied the message into Google Translate. And it basically said that, ‘we’re looking at getting new players into the Cape Verde squad and would you be interested in declaring for Cape Verde? I was absolutely buzzing with that! I was like, ‘yep, 100% I’d love to be a part of the squad’,” he recalled.

In the past, it was hard for the team to attract top European-based Cape Verdean talent, Araujo said.

SUCCESS HAS ATTRACTED NEW PLAYERS

“But with new waves of recent success, a lot more European-based talents are inclined to choose Cape Verde to showcase their talents at the international level.”

Victory in Tripoli on Wednesday will be tough, but if unsuccessful they will be heavily fancied to secure qualification on Monday with home success against the Swazis.

Beating Cameroon last month set off celebrations across the islands, and those will surely be repeated with vigour should they secure a World Cup spot.

-Reuters

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Egypt will look to confirm their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they face Djibouti in a Group A clash of the African qualifiers this Wednesday in Morocco.

The Pharaohs, who have appeared at the global finals three times — in 1934, 1990 and 2018 — need only two points from their remaining two matches to seal qualification for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Currently top of Group A with 20 points, Egypt hold a five-point lead over second-placed Burkina Faso, who will also be in action away to Sierra Leone on Wednesday.

A victory on Wednesday would all but guarantee Egypt’s qualification and pave the way for celebrations in Cairo when they host Guinea-Bissau in their final qualifier on Sunday.

 On paper, Hossam Hassan’s men are overwhelming favourites against bottom-placed Djibouti, who have collected just one point from eight matches and have been forced to host home fixtures outside their country due to stadium accreditation issues with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Head coach Hossam Hassan has kept faith with most of the players who featured in September’s matches against Ethiopia (2–0) and Burkina Faso (0–0). Star forward Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, and veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy headline the squad.

The only notable absentee is Omar Marmoush of Manchester City, who is sidelined with a knee injury picked up early in the draw against Burkina Faso.

Hassan — the man whose goal sent Egypt to the 1990 World Cup as a player — is now seeking to etch his name in history as one of the few to qualify for the tournament both as a player and coach.

Liverpool talisman Salah, who has gone three Premier League games without a goal, will be eager to rediscover his scoring touch, while Trezeguet is expected to share more attacking responsibility following his impressive run with Al Ahly.

Both Salah and Trezeguet, alongside El-Shennawy, will be aiming for a second World Cup appearance, having featured at Russia 2018.

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The race for Africa’s remaining places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its decisive phase this week, with three continental heavyweights — Egypt, Algeria, and Ghana — among those looking to seal qualification before next Tuesday.

With only nine group winners guaranteed a ticket to next year’s expanded finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the stakes could not be higher.

Morocco and Tunisia have already secured qualification, leaving seven automatic spots still up for grabs across the continent.

Egypt on the brink in Group A

Record African champions Egypt look poised to become the next nation to book their place at the finals. The Pharaohs lead Group A by five points and can confirm qualification with victory away to Djibouti on Wednesday.

The North Africans have dominated their group under Hossam Hassan, combining defensive stability with attacking flair.

Should they falter, they will have another opportunity when they host Guinea-Bissau in Cairo on Sunday.

Burkina Faso, their nearest challengers, face Sierra Leone and Ethiopia but would need a miracle to close the gap.

Cape Verde chasing a fairytale debut

One of the continent’s smallest nations, Cape Verde, are just a win away from completing a remarkable journey to their first-ever World Cup.

The Blue Sharks sit four points clear of Cameroon in Group D after a stunning win over the Indomitable Lions last month.

A victory in Libya on Thursday or at home to Eswatini next Monday will seal qualification.

With a population of barely half a million, Cape Verde’s rise from regional minnows to global contenders stands as one of African football’s great modern stories.

Cameroon, however, remain in contention and must win both of their remaining matches — away to Mauritius and home to Angola — while hoping the islanders stumble.

Algeria and Ghana eye decisive victories

In Group G, Algeria need just one more point to confirm their return to the World Cup.

The Desert Foxes face bottom side Somalia on Thursday before hosting Uganda in Algiers.

After a strong qualifying run, Vladimir Petković’s team are expected to make light work of their remaining fixtures and join Morocco, Tunisia and potentially Egypt in representing North Africa in 2026.

In Group I, Ghana are closing in on their fifth World Cup appearance. The Black Stars top their group by three points and will qualify if they beat the Central African Republic on Wednesday and Madagascar fail to win against Comoros.

Should the race go down to the wire, Ghana’s home clash with Comoros on Sunday could decide their fate.

Nigeria and Cameroon under pressure

Two of Africa’s biggest footballing nations — Nigeria and Cameroon — face a nervous few days.

Nigeria, who have endured a turbulent campaign marred by off-field controversies and a FIFA sanction against rivals South Africa, must win both of their matches in Group C and hope other results go their way.

Cameroon, meanwhile, risk missing consecutive World Cups for the first time in over 30 years unless they produce a late surge.

Play-off race intensifies

With only group winners guaranteed automatic qualification, the four best second-placed teams will advance to next month’s African play-offs, where one more side will earn a spot in the intercontinental qualifiers.

Gabon, DR Congo, Burkina Faso, and Madagascar currently lead that secondary race, but results in the final two rounds could reshape the standings dramatically.

Africa’s hopefuls eye North America

As the final whistle approaches in this marathon qualifying campaign, Africa’s top sides are dreaming of their ticket to the world’s biggest football stage.

From Cairo to Praia, Algiers to Accra, the next few days will determine who carries the continent’s hopes to North America 2026 — and who will be left chasing redemption through the play-offs.

-Cafonline

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