by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – CAPE Verde’s fairytale run on their World Cup debut continues with qualification for the knockout phase of the competition.
The Blue Sharks have finished second in Group H following a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium in Texas in the early hours of Saturday.
This result secured qualification for the archipelago nation off the coast of West Africa after the simultaneous fixture between Spain and Uruguay at Estadio Guadalajara worked in their favour.
Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 at the venue in Mexico.
Cape Verde finished second behind Spain, the 2010 champions, whom they held to a goalless draw in the opening fixture of the group.
In between that match and the latest encounter, they fought back for a thrilling 2-2 draw against Uruguay.
With a population of just under 525 000 people, Cape Verde are therefore the smallest nation by land area ever to reach the knockout rounds of a men’s World Cup.
Their progression is all the more defiant in that, with Spain and Uruguay both former World Cup champions, this was seen as the Group of Death, also featuring Saudi Arabia, who, in the 2022 edition, defeated eventual champions Argentina in the group stages.
Coincidentally, it emerged Cape Verde will meet the defending champions in Miami on July 4 in a Round of 32 fixture of the expanded tournament.
At the time of publishing, the island nation had joined Ivory Coast, Morocco and South Africa at this stage of the tournament.
– CAJ News