2 hours ago One of the most-storied nationalist teams - and the existent satellite champions - look opponents who lone archetypal qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations successful 2013.
Cape Verde was a colony of Portugal erstwhile Argentina took portion successful the archetypal World Cup successful 1930, finishing runners-up to Uruguay.
La Albiceleste person lone failed to suffice for 1 World Cup, successful Mexico successful 1970, though withdrew from the 3 tournaments either broadside of World War Two.
Argentina's archetypal World Cup occurrence came successful 1978, beating the Netherlands 3-1. In 1986, a 3-2 triumph implicit West Germany took the trophy backmost to South America.
A 3rd World Cup trophy was secured successful Qatar 4 years ago, with France beaten connected penalties aft a 3-3 draw.
Argentina person enjoyed extended continental success, too, winning the Copa America a grounds 16 times - including the past 2 tournaments.
They person not been retired of the apical 3 of the Fifa satellite ranking since March 2022, and spent 2 years successful the fig 1 spot earlier being dethroned by France past year.
The Cape Verdean Football Federation was lone formed successful 1982, and accepted arsenic a Fifa subordinate successful 1986 - conscionable arsenic Argentina were winning the World Cup for a 2nd time.
The Blue Sharks archetypal entered World Cup qualifying successful 2002 but did not person a realistic accidental of qualifying until 2022.
Four years agone they lone conscionable mislaid retired to Nigeria, drafting the last radical crippled 1-1 successful Lagos erstwhile a triumph would person sent them to Qatar.
For the 2026 finals, contempt being drawn successful a radical with eight-time qualifiers Cameroon, Cape Verde finished apical with 1 decision successful 10 matches.
Such has been their caller improvement they lone played astatine their archetypal Africa Cup of Nations 13 years ago, reaching the quarter-finals earlier losing to Ghana.
They person present played astatine the Afcon 4 times, reaching the past 8 again successful 2023.
But they failed to scope the 2025 Afcon, contempt qualifying for the World Cup.
Cape Verde broke successful the Fifa apical 100 successful 2006, and climbed to 36th connected the backmost of the archetypal Afcon outing. In 2014, aft qualifying for the 2015 tournament, they achieved their highest-ever ranking of 27th.
For the past 9 years, Cape Verde person hovered astir the 60-80 bracket, and volition spell into Friday's crippled ranked 64th.
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