Cape Verde and Ghana World Cup qualification shocks Africa after AFCON miss, as both sides secure spots in the expanded 2026 tournament

Cape Verde and Ghana World Cup qualification has sent ripples across the African football community after both nations bounced back from failing to reach the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to book tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Also read: Victor Osimhen hat-trick seals Super Eagles’ 4–0 triumph

Cape Verde, a nation of just over half a million people with no major football titles to its name, has now made history by becoming the smallest African country by land mass to qualify for a World Cup.

Ghana, by contrast, returns to the global stage with four previous appearances, yet their path was no less dramatic after an early exit from continental qualification.

While disappointment initially loomed large for both sides, the mood has dramatically shifted.

Jubilant scenes broke out across Praia and Accra this week as supporters celebrated what many consider a comeback story for the ages.

Cape Verde’s Group D triumph came off the back of a seven-match unbeaten run, following a heavy 4–1 defeat to Cameroon.

Coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito hailed the transformation: “We’ve earned respect in Africa. Now we must earn respect in the world.”

Central to their success was 24-year-old striker Dailon Livramento, whose four goals included a stunning solo effort that sealed victory over Cameroon on home soil.

The Verona loanee’s clinical finishing and composure under pressure proved vital.

Cape Verde and Ghana World Cup qualification is even more impressive considering both were absent from AFCON 2025, a tournament traditionally seen as a barometer of form.

For Ghana, it was a much-needed redemption arc. The Black Stars, once giants of African football, topped Group I by a comfortable six points, with a dramatic last-minute win in Bamako against Mali proving crucial.

Veteran forward Jordan Ayew delivered the decisive blow in added time — a result that reignited belief across the country.

Their qualification marks a return to the world stage, 12 years after their unforgettable run to the quarter-finals in South Africa, and far removed from the chaos of Brazil 2014, where players threatened a boycott over unpaid bonuses.

The broader African picture also includes the likes of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, South Africa, and Ivory Coast, who have secured automatic spots.

Notably, Morocco remain perfect in qualifying, echoing their 2022 heroics.

Meanwhile, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and DR Congo will have to navigate a four-nation mini-tournament in November, with only one progressing to a high-stakes intercontinental playoff in March 2026.

Also read: Victor Osimhen hat-trick seals Super Eagles’ 4–0 triumph

As African football adapts to the expanded 48-team World Cup format, the narrative continues to evolve — and Cape Verde and Ghana World Cup qualification serves as a powerful reminder that redemption is always possible, no matter the odds.