Cutting inside Alexis Mac Allister before curling a perfectly placed right-footed strike into the top corner beyond Emiliano Martinez, Cabral levelled the score at 2-2 and gave Cabo Verde supporters emotions they had never imagined they would experience against the FIFA World Cup defending champions.

Vozinha, who left Portuguese second-tier side Chaves before the World Cup, was voted into FIFA's fan-selected World Cup dream team after helping tournament debutants Cape Verde hold eventual champions Spain to a goalless draw and pushing eventual runners-up Argentina into extra time in the last 32.

The nerve-wracking Round of 32 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 came to an end on Saturday morning with defending champions Argentina, Colombia and Egypt clinching the final three berths in the Round of 16.

A tiny archipelago of just over 500,000 people off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde held Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws on their first ever appearance at the World Cup.

There was no space, no right to shoot, and absolutely no statistical probability of success.

"They did it with bravery and never did we lose our identity."

Cape Verde, ranked 67th in the world, twice came from behind. Twice they refused to fold.

Before the 2026 World Cup got under way, few would have predicted a Round-of-32 meeting between defending champions Argentina and debutants Cape Verde. Yet after the group stage, it has become one of the tournament's most captivating ties.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni brushed aside suggestions that FIFA had favoured his side through refereeing decisions or the World Cup knockout draw, insisting he pays no attention to such speculation.

Messi arrives in Miami as the tournament's leading scorer with six goals, having found the net in every match for Argentina. Waiting for him is a defence unit that has frustrated some of the most accomplished sides.

His comments come ahead of Saturday's last-32 clash against Argentina in Miami.

Cape Verde have written one of the most remarkable stories of the FIFA World Cup, becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage in their tournament debut.

Spain's 1-0 victory over Uruguay earned them top spot in the pool with seven points, while three draws were enough for Cape Verde to earn second place. Uruguay and the Saudis were both eliminated with two points.

That has been the message from coach Bubista after the performance against Uruguay. "We're here to show our country to the entire world," he said after the match.

Cape Verde boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout phase with their second point in Group H.

The Blue Sharks went a long way to proving their point when, making their World Cup debut, they put together a brilliant defensive display to hold European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw on Monday.

Cape Verde keeper Vozinha broke down in tears at the end of Monday's 0-0 draw with Spain

Cape Verde announced themselves on the World Cup stage with a stunning 0-0 draw against Spain on Monday, frustrating the European champions who dominated possession and had 27 goal attempts but could find no way past 40-year-old keeper Vozinha.

"Honestly, I still can't believe what we've achieved," said Mendes.

We are offering the following story chosen by AFP's chief editors for our Africa Selection re-publication as among the best reporting from the sub-Saharan continent over the last fortnight