Cape Verde may have bowed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the Blue Sharks earned widespread admiration from football fans and even their Argentine opponents after pushing the defending champions to the brink in a thrilling knockout clash.
Argentina needed an extra-time own goal to edge the tournament debutants 3-2 in Miami on Friday and progress to the next round.
The Blue Sharks, representing a country of about 500,000 people, fought back twice from a goal down against the defending champions before an extra-time own goal by Diney Borges handed Argentina victory.
The game started favourably for the South Americans, with Lionel Messi firing past Vozinha in the 29th minute to give a lead.
As they had done throughout the tournament, Cape Verde showed they possessed determination and genuine ability, equalising when Deroy Duarte collected Ryan Mendes’ pass and fired through Lisandro Martinez’s legs and beyond Emiliano Martinez.
