Overview:
Iceland, who featured at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is the only country with a smaller population to qualify for the global showpiece with Cape Verde’s current population at 525,000 according to the latest figures from the World Bank.
Cape Verde has made history by qualifying for their first ever Fifa World Cup following a 3-0 victory over Eswatini at home.
Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo and Stopira scored the goals for the Blue Sharks that saw them finish ahead of giants Cameroon in group D on 23 points, four ahead of the Indomitable Lions who were held to a goalless draw by Angola.
Besides being at the global stage for the first time, they also become the second smallest nation to qualify for the world’s biggest show piece to be held in Canada, Mexico and United States of America.
Iceland, who featured at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is the only country with a smaller population to qualify for the global showpiece with Cape Verde’s current population at 525,000 according to the latest figures from the World Bank.
Cape Verde join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Ghana in sealing an African qualifying spot for next year’s finals, with three more nations set to join them after final qualifying matches on Tuesday.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will now need go through the African and inter-confederation play-offs if they are to extend their continental record of eight appearances at the World Cup.
They currently lie second on the table of second best ranked teams with 15 points and a goal difference of 9.