Cape Verde Islands surge past Eswatini with second-half flurry to boost World Cup quest

The Cape Verde Islands continued their confident march in Africa’s World Cup qualification, dispatching Eswatini 3-0 in a match marked by clinical execution and a rediscovered attacking verve. On a humid October night, three different scorers propelled Cape Verde past their southern African visitors, illuminating the growing gulf between the contenders and strugglers in Group C.

For about 45 minutes, the game offered little sign of the onslaught to come. Cape Verde, fresh off a six-goal thriller in Libya five days earlier—a 3-3 draw that showcased their attacking flair but exposed defensive uncertainties—entered with momentum but wary of the defensive lapses that had cost them points. Eswatini, meanwhile, arrived in search of stability, their last three qualifiers yielding only a single draw and five goals conceded, including a fraught 2-2 home tie with Angola. The visitors, acutely aware of their underdog status and an unenviable away record, set out to frustrate, sitting deep and absorbing pressure.

Yet the dam broke moments after halftime. Dailon Rocha Livramento, the industrious midfielder who has matured into Cape Verde’s engine, found space at the top of the box in the 48th minute. Latching onto a loose ball, he drove it low through a forest of defenders—a strike as much about persistence as precision. The goal settled nerves and shifted the match’s narrative unmistakably in Cape Verde’s favor.

Six minutes later, the decisive blow arrived courtesy of Willy Semedo. Having scored in the chaotic draw at Libya, Semedo’s touch seemed predestined to make the score sheet once more. Cape Verde worked the ball from back to front with methodical patience, cleaving open the Eswatini back line, and Semedo finished a sharp sequence with a powerful shot that left the goalkeeper with no hope. At 2-0, the hosts could afford composure; for Eswatini, the mountain grew insurmountable.

The contest’s closing passages saw Eswatini’s frustration grow. Cape Verde, increasingly untroubled at the back, pressed for a third. As the clock ticked into injury time, Stopira—veteran defender and fixture of Cape Verde’s golden generation—rose highest to nod home a corner kick, punctuating the win and setting off celebrations in the stands. The 90th-minute goal was more than a statistic; it encapsulated Cape Verde’s dominance and the depth of their squad’s experience.

Throughout the 90 minutes, Eswatini rarely threatened. The attacking spark shown by Justice Figuareido in their previous match—scoring twice against Angola—was dimmed by Cape Verde’s disciplined marking and aggressive midfield press. The visitors mustered only a handful of half-chances and never genuinely tested the Cape Verde goalkeeper. No red cards marred the evening, though Eswatini’s mounting fouls late in the game spoke to building frustration and the physical toll of chasing shadows.

With their latest victory, Cape Verde now finds itself firmly in the hunt for World Cup qualification, drawing attention not just for their results but for the evolving poise that separates group leaders from hopefuls. The three goals, following a sequence of attacking displays that included a 1-0 home triumph over Cameroon and a 2-0 away win at Mauritius, are evidence of a side peaking at the right moment. Questions about defensive lapses linger after the wild draw with Libya, but with Stopira anchoring the back line and Livramento controlling tempo, Cape Verde increasingly looks like a team capable of balancing creativity with resilience.

Eswatini’s journey, meanwhile, grows ever more arduous. Winless in the group and now with another multi-goal defeat added to a sequence that includes losses to Libya (0-2) and Cameroon (0-3), their hopes of qualification are dimming. The flashes of promise—most recently in Figuareido’s scoring exploits—are being overwhelmed by structural issues on both sides of the ball: the defense struggles under pace and pressure, while attacking moves lack the cohesion to unsettle organized opposition. Their head-to-head history with Cape Verde offers little solace; recent encounters have nearly always tilted toward the islanders, and tonight’s result merely reinforces the trend.

As the group stage nears its midway point, stakes heighten for both sides. For Cape Verde, the challenge is clear: build on momentum, lock down defensive lapses, and consolidate their grip on one of Africa’s most competitive qualification pools. Every point is precious in the race for a World Cup berth, and with leaders emerging and chemistry deepening, optimism on the islands grows. For Eswatini, the path is more precarious—a blend of pride and pragmatism will be required to salvage their campaign and restore faith in future cycles. Qualification may be slipping away, but every match is a lesson, every defeat a blueprint for what must be rebuilt.

Tonight, it was Cape Verde’s collective spirit—and clinical finishing—that made the difference. Their World Cup dream remains very much alive.