World Cup qualifiers: Blue Sharks set for their moment in the sun

Cape Verde will look to make history when they feature in one of eight Matchday 10 fixtures played across Africa in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers on Monday.

The Blue Sharks are on the cusp of a first-ever qualification for the World Cup, as they gear up to host Eswatini in an early evening clash at the National Stadium in Praia. Cape Verde are two points clear of Cameroon at the top of Group D and a win over Sihlangu Semnikati will guarantee top spot and a berth at the 2026 finals.

They missed out on securing qualification last Wednesday when they had to fight back from 1-3 down to draw 3-3 away to Libya, but at home against bottom-of-the-log Eswatini, it is widely expected that the Blue Sharks will make football history.

At the same time, Cameroon will be aiming to win at home to Angola at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde – to take advantage of any slip-up from Cape Verde, but also to boost their hopes of being one of the top-ranked runners-up advancing into the second round next month.

“My position is to aim as high as possible, so we want to be the best second-placed team to qualify, and then we'll see what happens,” said Indomitable Lions coach Marc Brys.

Group H will also draw to a close, with focus falling on Namibia’s clash away to already-qualified Tunisia at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis.

The Brave Warriors have a chance of being one of the top-ranked runners-up, but will need a win in the Tunisian capital after they succumbed 1-3 against Liberia in Monrovia last Thursday.

“We have to play Tunisia. I think it’s another chance for our team to grow, my team to grow, and for my youngsters to get international experience,” said coach Collin Benjamin.

“The national experience is very important for them and their growth and development. And at the moment, we’re going to sit down, we’re going to analyse what we did wrong [against Liberia], what we can improve and then on Monday, we take on Tunisia.”

2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers (CAF/Africa)

Matchday 10 fixtures – Monday 13 October 2025

Times CAT

15:00: South Sudan v Togo

15:00: Tunisia v Namibia

15:00: Equatorial Guinea v Liberia

15:00: Sao Tome & Principe v Malawi

18:00: Mauritius v Libya

18:00: Cameroon v Angola

18:00: Cape Verde v Eswatini

18:00: Lesotho v Zimbabwe