Cape Verde have a second chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup when they face Eswatini at home on Monday
Cape Verde missed the chance to seal a historic World Cup qualification after a controversial offside call in injury time denied them a thrilling comeback win against Libya.
Knowing a victory would book their place at the 2026 finals and make the Atlantic Ocean archipelago the second-smallest nation to appear at the tournament, Cape Verde thought they were about to win the game 4-3 with a goal in the sixth added minute - sealing a comeback from 3-1 behind with 15 minutes to go.
But just before the ball was slotted into the net, after a four-on-one break, the referee blew his whistle for offside, despite the attacker looking to be marginally onside when the pass was played through to him.
The visiting bench erupted in protest but, with no video assistant referee in operation in African qualifiers, had to settle for a draw.
Cape Verde remain top of Group D, now on 20 points, with Cameroon second on 18 points but with a far superior goal difference to the islanders who can qualify for their first World Cup with a win against Eswatini on Monday.
The group winners are guaranteed a place at the 2026 World Cup, while the second-placed side could reach the African play-offs and have a chance to progress to a final intercontinental qualifier.
Libya required victory to keep their own dreams alive, and the hosts went ahead inside 46 seconds as Roberto 'Pico' Lopes put Fadel Mansour's cross into his own net.
Telmo Arcanjo headed an equaliser on the half-hour mark before Ezoo El Mariamy restored Libya's lead three minutes before the break when he converted a rebound.
Cape Verde's hopes of qualifying from Group D with a game to spare appeared to be over when Mahmoud Al Shilw netted an incredible long-range free-kick off the underside of the crossbar to make it 3-1 in the 58th minute.
The Mediterranean Knights came close to adding to their tally as Saif Jaddour and El Mariamy hit the woodwork and Mohammed Soulah was denied by Blue Sharks goalkeeper Vozinha.
But Cape Verde were gifted a way back into the contest with 14 minutes remaining when an incredible lapse in concentration from keeper Murad Al Wuheeshi allowed Sidny Cabral's hopeful long ball into the box to dribble through his legs and into the net.
Six minutes later Willy Semedo levelled from close range after Libya failed to clear a cross, setting up a frantic finale in which both sides were risking everything to chase victory.
- Published3 days ago
- Published17 hours ago
It was Cape Verde who came closest to snatching what would have been a sensational victory as they carved out three chances in the seven minutes of stoppage time.
First Semedo had an effort headed off the line by Muhanad Eito and a minute later Nuno Da Costa was denied by the feet of Al Wuheesi when he could have squared to Semedo for a tap-in.
Then came the moment of offside controversy in the 96th minute.
The result effectively ends Libya's hopes of finishing second in the group and qualifying via play-offs, due to their vastly inferior goal difference, but gives fresh hope to continental heavyweights Cameroon, who remain in the hunt after second-half goals from Moumi Ngamaleu and Bryan Mbeumo gave the Indomitable Lions a 2-0 win in Mauritius.
Cape Verde host Eswatini in the final round of group games on Monday and Cameroon host Angola, with both games kicking off at 16:00 GMT.
