Imagine being on the brink of making history, only to have it snatched away by a single, controversial call. That’s exactly what happened to Cape Verde in their heart-stopping 3-3 draw against Libya, a match that could have secured their first-ever World Cup qualification. But here’s where it gets controversial... A last-gasp goal in the sixth minute of injury time, which would have sealed a miraculous 4-3 comeback, was ruled offside—a decision that left fans and players alike in disbelief. Was it the right call? The debate rages on, especially since the scorer appeared to be marginally onside when the pass was played. Without the luxury of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in African qualifiers, Cape Verde was forced to settle for a draw, leaving their World Cup dreams hanging in the balance.
For context, a win would have guaranteed Cape Verde a spot in the 2026 World Cup finals, making this tiny Atlantic Ocean archipelago the second-smallest nation ever to qualify. Instead, they remain atop Group D with 20 points, though Cameroon trails closely with 18 points and a significantly better goal difference. And this is the part most people miss... Cape Verde’s fate is still in their hands—a victory against Eswatini on Monday would secure their historic qualification. Meanwhile, Libya’s hopes of finishing second and reaching the African play-offs are all but dashed due to their inferior goal difference.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Libya struck first within 46 seconds when Roberto 'Pico' Lopes inadvertently put the ball into his own net. Cape Verde equalized through Telmo Arcanjo, but Libya regained the lead just before halftime via Ezoo El Mariamy’s rebound. Mahmoud Al Shilw’s stunning long-range free-kick in the 58th minute made it 3-1, seemingly sealing Libya’s victory. Yet, Cape Verde refused to give up. A goalkeeper blunder allowed Sidny Cabral’s long ball to roll into the net, and Willy Semedo’s close-range finish leveled the score at 3-3, setting the stage for the dramatic finale.
In stoppage time, Cape Verde pushed for the winner, creating three golden opportunities. Semedo’s header was cleared off the line, Nuno Da Costa was denied by a goalkeeping save, and then came the offside call that will be debated for years. Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Should African qualifiers adopt VAR to avoid such game-changing controversies?
The result not only crushed Libya’s playoff hopes but also breathed new life into Cameroon’s campaign, as their 2-0 win over Mauritius keeps them in contention. With Cape Verde hosting Eswatini and Cameroon facing Angola on Monday, both at 16:00 GMT, the final group stage matches promise more drama. Will Cape Verde finally secure their World Cup dream, or will Cameroon steal the spotlight? One thing’s for sure—this group’s race to the 2026 World Cup is far from over.
