Cabo Verde sets an unprecedented African record against the reigning World Cup champions

Despite being knocked out by Argentina in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, the Blue Sharks leave with statistics that will go down in the history of African football.

Cabo Verde has left its mark on the 2026 World Cup. In their first-ever appearance in the tournament, the Blue Sharks made a strong impression.

In the round of 32 of the current tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Cabo Verde held their own against Argentina, the reigning world champions. Having fallen behind on two occasions, the Cabo Verdean side fought back to level the score by scoring two goals before eventually losing 3–2.

Thanks to this performance, Cabo Verde became the first African nation in history to score more than one goal against the defending champions in a World Cup match.