Cape Verde qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup on Monday, beating Eswatini 3-0 in their last group match to top the standings ahead of Cameroon and complete a fairytale campaign. The wind-swept West African archipelago overcame first-half nerves to win in the capital, Praia, with second-half goals from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo and veteran Stopira, and book a first-ever appearance at the finals.
Cape Verde has scored well on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with figures above average compared to African nations. This shows notable progress in areas like poverty reduction, education, and health.