Shamrock Rovers' Pico Lopes on his way to the World Cup

One victory from their two remaining CAF in Group D qualifiers will secure Cape Verde's place at next summer’s tournament co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada.

REPRESENTING: Cameroon's defender Harold Moukoudi (R) fights for the ball with Cape Verde's defender Roberto Lopes. Pic: Kenzo Tribouillard, Getty Images

An Irish-born player will, it seems likely, participate in next year’s World Cup as Pico Lopes and Cape Verde are on the verge of qualification.

The Shamrock Rovers captain was born in Dublin and was part of Ireland youth squads but declared for the African country in 2019 level through his father, Carlos.

A four-time League of Ireland winner with Rovers, the Dubliner was born to an Irish mother and a Cape Verdean father.

Lopes was again at the heart of the defence in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Cameroon. One victory from their two remaining CAF in Group D qualifiers— away to third-placed Libya on October 6 or at home to bottom side Eswatini a week later — will secure The Blue Sharks a place at next summer’s tournament co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada.

Cape Verde, with around 600,000 inhabitants, would become the second smallest country ever to reach the World Cup finals. That record was set by current Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson’s after his native Iceland’s breakthrough for the 2018 World Cup. Iceland’s population is 350,000.

Dailon Livramento’s 54th-minute strike earned a famous victory for the west African island archipelago over group favourites Cameroon at the Estádio Nacional, Praia.

Forward Livramento won a duel with Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba inside his own half before bursting 60 metres unopposed through Cameroon’s centre, eventually slamming the ball past Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana who remained rooted to his line.

It was the 24-year-old’s third goal of 2026 World Cup qualifying, following the brace that earned Cape Verde victory over Angola last March.

Those three points over Cameroon was particularly joyous, after the Indomitable Lions won 4-1 when the teams met in Yaounde last year.

Cape Verde have 19 points, four ahead than Cameroon, who visit Mauritius and host Angola in the final two rounds of an epic qualifying competition that began in 2023.

Cameroon, whose eight appearances at the global showpiece are an African record, suffered a double blow with defeat in Praia. The loss puts them fifth among second-placed teams.

Only the top four group runners-up qualify for a mini-tournament.

The winner of that phase advances to the inter-continental play-offs next March with two World Cup slots up for grabs.

Nigeria are in danger of missing a second successive World Cup after drawing 1-1 away to Group C leaders South Africa in Bloemfontein.

The Super Eagles defenders scored both goals in the first half, with captain William Troost-Ekong diverting a cross into his own net and Calvin Bassey nodding the equaliser off a cross.

Nigeria trail South Africa by six points. Their hopes of making it to the 2026 tournament in North America probably hinge on finishing second and securing a play-off slot.

A win would have qualified Egypt for the World Cup from Group A, but they had to settle for a 0-0 draw away to second-placed Burkina Faso. The Pharaohs need two more points to seal a fourth qualification.

Nine nations from the CAF region qualify for the expanded 48-team World Cup.