Cape Verde will have to wait a few more days to make football history after being held to a 3-3 draw by Libya in a pulsating World Cup qualifier in Tripoli.
Victory would have sent the island nation to its first-ever FIFA World Cup, but the Blue Sharks needed a spirited comeback just to rescue a point after falling 3-1 behind. They remain in control of Group D and can still book their ticket to the 2026 finals when they host Eswatini on Monday.
The match began in chaos for the visitors. Less than a minute had passed when defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes inadvertently diverted a Fadel Mansour cross into his own net. Libya, desperate to stay alive in the group, kept up the pressure and twice went close before Telmo Arcanjo headed in the equaliser around the half-hour mark.
Libya restored their lead moments before the halftime when Ezoo El Mariamy caught a rebound and sent it inside the box. The hosts looked out of sight early in the second half as Mahmoud Al Shilw unleashed a stunning free-kick that dipped in off the crossbar to make it 3-1.
Cape Verde’s hopes appeared to be slipping until a moment of misfortune turned the game. With just over a quarter of an hour left, Libyan goalkeeper Murad Al Wuheeshi misjudged a long ball from Sidny Cabral, watching helplessly as it rolled through his legs and across the line.
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The error reignited the visitors. Six minutes later, Willy Semedo reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box, stabbing home to make it 3-3 and silence the crowd.
Cape Verde pushed for a winner in a frantic finale. Semedo saw a shot cleared off the line, Nuno Da Costa was denied by the goalkeeper’s legs, and deep into stoppage time a four-on-one counterattack ended with an offside flag that left the Blue Sharks furious. With no VAR in place for African qualifiers, their protests were waved away.
The draw leaves Cape Verde on 20 points, two ahead of Cameroon, who defeated Mauritius 2-0 earlier in the day thanks to second-half goals from Moumi Ngamaleu and Bryan Mbeumo.
Only the group winners are guaranteed a spot at the 2026 World Cup, while runners-up head into the continental play-offs. Cape Verde will host Eswatini in Praia, and Cameroon face Angola in Yaoundé — both matches kicking off at 16:00 GMT on Monday.