Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup for the first time, booking their ticket to the 2026 final with a 3-0 victory over Eswatini.
The Blue Sharks moved into the box seat to qualify from CAF Group D with a 1-0 home win over Cameroon last month.
Cape Verde boosted their lines with a chance to qualify against Libya last Wednesday, drawing 3-3.
But they made no mistake against winless Eswatini.
Dailon Livramento put Cape Verde ahead three minutes into the second half, before Willy Semedo volleyed in the second.
Stopira added a third in stoppage time to delight the national stadium crowd as Cape Verde became the second smallest nation in history to qualify for the World Cup.
Cape Verde has nearly 525,000 inhabitants. Iceland remains the smallest country to qualify for the World Cup, having first done so in 2018.
Cameroon, who drew 0-0 against Angola, will advance to the play-offs.
Namibia will also enter the play-offs as Group H finalists despite losing 3-0 to already qualified Tunisia.
Liberia failed to capitalize on Namibia’s defeat, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea, ending their hopes of qualifying for the first time.
