The Confederation of African Football has sent a message of congratulations to Cape Verde after the Blue Sharks held Spain to a goalless draw in their FIFA World Cup debut at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 15.
The third smallest nation in the 2026 tournament entered the competition as underdogs but emerged with a valuable point after a disciplined defensive display.
Vozinha's Heroics
Goalkeeper Vozinha was the star of the match, making seven saves to keep a clean sheet on his World Cup debut. According to statistics from Opta Joe, the 40-year-old became the first goalkeeper in World Cup history to achieve this feat on debut.
Cape Verde may not have created many attacking opportunities, but their defensive organization frustrated the European champions throughout the 90 minutes.
CAF's Recognition
Celebrations erupted globally after the final whistle as the Blue Sharks earned praise for holding one of the tournament favorites. CAF posted on social media to celebrate the historic achievement, also commending head coach Bubista, who was named Coach of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards.
Cape Verde is the fifth African nation to debut at a World Cup and the only one to secure a point in its first match. The team still faces Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group play, with a chance to advance to the knockout stage.
