Scandalous officiating prevents Cabo Verde from booking their World Cup ticket

Cabo Verde were seconds away from securing their qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday afternoon, thus becoming the second-smallest country ever to appear in the tournament.

All they needed was an away win in Tripoli against Libya, which would have put them four points above Cameroon ahead of the ultimate round in Group D.

After a sluggish start - as the hosts went 3-1 up - the Blue Sharks managed to bounce back in the last 20 minutes, and level the score, 3-3.

In the stoppage time, the visitors pushed for the total comeback and the fourth goal, which would have booked them a World Cup ticket.

Moreover, they even had a much-promising counter-attack, with four of their players facing a single Libyan defender, but then the referees stepped up and spoiled everything with some truly awkward officiating. Cabo Verde's winner was disallowed due to an alleged offside, although it was visible that the attacker was at least a yard behind the Libyan player.

This decision triggered a massive protest and anger among Cabo Verde's players, but the score stayed 3-3. The Blue Sharks now ought to defeat Eswatini at home on October 13 to finish these qualifiers ahead of Cameroon and make their WC debut.

WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 9

Wednesday

Eswatini - Angola 2-2 (0-0)

/Figuareido 48,54 - Buatu 69, Papel 80/

Ethiopia - Guinea B. 1-0 (1-0)

/James 27/

Libya - Cape Verde 3-3 (2-1)

/Lopes 1 og, Al Mariami 42, Al Shalui 58 - Arcanjo 29, Cabral 76, Semedo 82/

Mauritius - Cameroon 0-2 (0-0)

/Ngameleu 57, Mbeumo 90+2/

CAR - Ghana IN PROGRESS

Chad - Mali IN PROGRESS

Comores - Madagascar IN PROGRESS

Djibouti - Egypt IN PROGRESS

Sierra Leone - Burkina Faso IN PROGRESS

22.00: (2.00) Niger (3.35) Congo (4.00)

22.00: (3.40) Tanzania (3.10) Zambia (2.30)

***odds are subject to change***