On September 12th Beijing time, the African World Cup qualifiers have taken a break, but a small country that stands out is Cape Verde. In the eighth group stage round, they beat their direct competitor Cameroon 1-0, earning vital three points and continuing to lead the group by 4 points. One more win will send them to the World Cup!

In the recently concluded qualifier, Cape Verde faced the African powerhouse Cameroon in the eighth round battle for first place in the group. Cape Verde is ranked only 73rd in the world, far behind the well-known Cameroon, a frequent World Cup participant. This match was crucial for both sides. Cape Verde seized the opportunity, scoring in the 54th minute and securing a 1-0 victory, earning three points and firmly holding first place!

Many may not know Cape Verde is a small African country with a very small area and population—roughly the size of a small Chinese prefecture-level city and only 530,000 people. This tournament has seen Cape Verde emerge as a surprise contender, performing excellently as a dark horse and grabbing the top spot in their group with hopes of making the World Cup. Their rise is not accidental—they performed well in previous Africa Cup of Nations and have many players competing in European second-tier leagues, showing a solid foundation!

After defeating Cameroon, Cape Verde now leads them by 4 points. With two qualifying rounds remaining, Cape Verde has one foot already in the World Cup. Their last two opponents are relatively weak, so earning three points is almost guaranteed. Cape Verde is extremely close to making history and realizing their World Cup dream, which is truly enviable!

Looking at China’s national team, their World Cup qualifiers have been disastrous, failing to reach the playoffs and being eliminated early, ending their World Cup hopes once again. Preparing ahead for the 2030 World Cup, there is little optimism. The players’ skill level is too low, and it’s unclear when they will ever qualify. If China were to face Cape Verde, we might very likely lose!

Written by / Sports Fiction