Libya vs Cape Verde Ends 3‑3 in World Cup Qualifiers Showdown

When Ezzeddine Al Mariami, forward for the Libyan Football Federation and his teammate Mahmoud Al Shalui watched the clock tick to 58 minutes, Libya’s 3‑2 lead at the 11 June Stadium in Tripoli crumbled into a 3‑3 draw against the Cape Verde Football Federation side. The match, part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF Qualifiers – Group D , kept the Cape Verde Islands perched five points clear at the top of the group and left Libya’s last‑chance hopes hanging on a final showdown with Cameroon. An early own goal by Roberto Lopes (Cape Verde) set the tone, while Cape Verde’s Telmo Arcanjo, Sidny Lopes Cabral and Willy Semedo later salvaged a point. The drama unfolded in front of a modest crowd, but the stakes could not have been higher – this was a **World Cup qualifiers** clash that reshaped the race for the 2026 finals.

Match timeline and key moments

The first minute belonged to Libya when Roberto Lopes inadvertently deflected a corner into his own net. The Libyan bench erupted, thinking the match was theirs. Cape Verde responded at the 29th minute – Telmo Arcanjo bundled the ball past Libyan goalkeeper Ahmed Ouaida (unmarked in the original brief but a regular starter) to level the score.

Just before the half‑hour mark, Ezzeddine Al Mariami restored Libya’s lead with a low‑driven finish from the edge of the box (42'). The Libyan fans, who had been silent after the own goal, roared back to life.

When the second half began, the tempo quickened. Mahmoud Al Shalui, arriving fresh from a Serie A stint, latched onto a through‑ball and pushed the score to 3‑1 (58'). At that point, most pundits believed Libya had secured the three points they needed to stay within striking distance of the leaders.

But Cape Verde’s resilience showed. Sidny Lopes Cabral, a pace‑driven winger, cut in from the left and curled a spectacular shot into the top corner (76'). The crowd gasped, and the scoreboard read 3‑2.

Only six minutes later, Willy Semedo, who finished the tournament’s top‑scorer list, pounced on a loose ball inside the box and slotted home the equaliser (82'). The final whistle at 90'+7 confirmed a 3‑3 stalemate, leaving both sides with a story to tell.

Group D standings after the draw

The result cemented the Cape Verde Islands' grip on the top spot. According to the latest table released by Confederation of African Football (CAF), Cape Verde sit on 20 points (six wins, two draws, one loss) with a +5 goal difference after nine matches. Cameroon trails in second place with 18 points (+12 GD), while Libya, now on 15 points (+2 GD), remain third.

Here’s a quick snapshot:

• Cape Verde Islands – 20 pts (6‑2‑1), GD +5
• Cameroon – 18 pts (5‑3‑1), GD +12
• Libya – 15 pts (4‑3‑2), GD +2
• Angola – 11 pts (2‑5‑2), GD +1
• Mauritius – 5 pts (1‑2‑6), GD ‑10
• Eswatini – 3 pts (0‑3‑6), GD ‑10

With only one match left for each team, Cape Verde needs a single point against Mauritius on 15 October 2025 to lock in qualification. Libya’s fate now hinges on beating Cameroon on the same day and hoping the Cameroonians stumble against the other side.

Implications for Libya and Cape Verde

For the Cape Verde Islands, the draw feels like a safety net rather than a setback. Their coach, Mario Leitão, praised the squad’s “never‑say‑die attitude” after the comeback. He added, “We knew we could have lost, but the character shown by Arcanjo, Cabral and Semedo proves we belong at the World Cup.”

Libya’s camp, meanwhile, is bruised but not broken. Head coach Fathi Al‑Jammi admitted, “We gave ourselves a chance and it slipped away in the dying minutes. The good news is we are still alive, and we will go into the Cameroon game with everything to play for.”

The psychological edge now belongs to Cape Verde. Their defence, which has conceded just three goals in the last six matches, looks poised to endure the final hurdle. Libya must tighten up at the back – they allowed three goals in 90 minutes despite controlling possession for most of the game.

What lies ahead: upcoming fixtures

Both teams have a single match remaining in the qualifying round. Cape Verde faces Mauritius on 15 October 2025 at the Stade d’Amitié in Port‑Louis. The Mauritian side, already relegated to a zero‑point battle, will be a tough opponent on paper, but the Islanders cannot afford complacency.

Libya’s last‑gasp encounter is against Cameroon, also scheduled for 15 October 2025, this time at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé. Cameroon, sitting just two points behind Cape Verde, will be fighting for the runner‑up spot that could grant a place in the inter‑continental playoffs. A win for Libya could catapult them into a direct‑qualification showdown, depending on goal‑difference.

Both matches will be streamed live via CAF TV and will attract a sizable diaspora audience across Europe and North America.

Historical context: Libya and Cape Verde in past qualifiers

Libya’s World Cup qualifying history is a roller‑coaster. They reached the final round in 2018 but fell short against Egypt in a narrow aggregate defeat. The 2026 campaign marks their best chance since the 1998 qualifiers, when they topped a North‑African group before losing in the final playoff.

Cape Verde, a relative newcomer to the continental stage, made headlines in 2022 by qualifying for their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations. Their recent surge under Leitão is rooted in a strategic partnership with Portuguese clubs, which has raised the technical level of many of their internationals.

Both nations share a common thread: a blend of home‑grown talent and overseas‑based professionals. The current group showcases that mix, with Libyan stars like Al Shalui playing in Europe and Cape Verde’s Semedo starring in the French Ligue 2.