Cape Verde and Angola get their quest for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway when they go head to head at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde on Thursday.
Both sides have been drawn in Group D of the qualifiers, alongside Eswatini, Mauritius, 1982 Africa Cup of Nations winners Libya and five-time African champions Cameroon.
Cape Verde have lost each of their last three matches across all competitions, including a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Togo in their last game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on September 10.
Despite their loss to Togo, the Blue Sharks finished second in Group B of the qualifiers, one point off first-placed Burkina Faso to secure successive appearances at the bi-annual continental showpiece.
Following a four-year absence from the Africa Cup of Nations, Cape Verde returned to the tournament in 2021, when they reached the round of 16 before suffering a 2-0 loss against Senegal.
Cape Verde will head into Thursday looking to extend this impressive home form and snap their losing streak as they eye a first-ever World Cup appearance in 2026.
Cape Verde and Angola will head into Thursday looking to pick up a morale-boosting result and kick off their qualifying campaign on the right note.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
