Cape Verde qualified for the football World Cup for the first time after dispatching Eswatini 3-0 on Monday night at the National Stadium in Praia.
Dailon Rocha Livramento got the opener for the hosts just after the pause and Willy Semedo doubled the advantage in the 55th minute to the delight of the 15,000 partisans.
Just over 4,000km away at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, the only danger to the mounting delirium, were labouring 0-0 against Angola.
In the prelude to the match, Cape Verde coach Bubista described the game as the most important match in the country's history and urged his players to seize their chance for history.
Once ahead, they maintained their control and structure to squeeze the life out of the pool makeweights.
And a composed performance was rewarded in stoppage-time when Stopira added the third.
"Giving this happiness to these people is enormous," said Bubista. "It's a victory for all the Cape Verdean people and, above all, a victory for those who fought for our independence.
"It's a special moment in this celebration of the 50th anniversary of our independence."
The goalkeeper Vozinha added: "We knew we could do better in the second-half and we did.
"I have been dreaming of this moment since I was a child. It's time to celebrate."
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World Cup feat
Cape Verde – a nation of just under 600,000 people – will be the second smallest country after Iceland to send a team to the World Cup since its inception in 1930.
When Iceland featured in Russia in 2018, 32 sides battled for primacy. In 2026 in Mexico, the United States and Canada, 48 sides will fight for the crown.
The expanded version will increase the number of teams from Africa from five to nine. A tenth could participate if they navigate intercontinental play-offs next March.
That route will be of little concern to Cape Verde who claimed Group D with 23 points from their 10 games.
The Blue Sharks – as they are nicknamed – started the road to glory inauspiciously with four points from their first three games against Angola, Eswatini and Cameroon.
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Bounce back
But after the 4-1 defeat to Cameroon in Yaounde, Cape Verde won five consecutive qualifiers, including crucial one-goal victories away to Angola and at home to Cameroon.
That left the islanders needing three points from their final two qualifiers. They notched up one in a drama-filled 3-3 draw in Libya before Monday night's gala against Eswatini.
The qualification for the World Cup will serve as redemption for Bubista who botched the campaign to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Despite that failure, Cape Verdean football chiefs retained him and the former defender has repaid their faith.
Cameroon, one of the traditional powerhouses of African football, finished second on 19 points and could be in contention for a place in the play-offs as one of the four best runners-up.
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Benin's turn?
On Tuesday night, Benin will attempt to emulate Cape Verde.
Gernot Rohr's squad lead Group C. They are two points ahead of South Africa and three in front of Nigeria whom they face in Uyo.
"We still have to do something great against Nigeria," said Rohr who steered the Nigeria side through the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
"All is possible for South Africa, Nigeria and us," added the 72-year-old German who took over in Benin in 2023.
"We have our destiny in our hands. This can be a little advantage. We will see."
In other African qualifying groups on Tuesday, Group B pacesetters Senegal entertain Mauritania. Victory will assure Pape Bouna Thiaw's side of passage to a second successive World Cup.
Democratic Republic of Congo will advance if they beat Sudan and Senegal lose their match.
