Cape Verde vs Libya

Cape Verde seized control from the opening tip. A devastating 32-10 first quarter put Libya on the back foot before the game was 10 minutes old. Patrick Spencer set the tone early, attacking the rim and cleaning the glass, while Ivan Almeida orchestrated the offence with clinical precision.

Libya steadied in the second quarter, outscoring Cape Verde 19-15 to trim the deficit to 18 points at halftime (47-29). Mohamed Buzgaiya and Naseim Badrush provided the scoring thrust that kept Libya in touch.

But any thoughts of a second-half fightback were erased in the third period. Cape Verde poured in 30 points — matching their first-quarter output — to push the lead beyond 30 points. Libya managed 19 in response but never threatened the margin.

The fourth quarter played out as a formality, Cape Verde taking it 21-18 to close out a 32-point victory.

Quarter scores: 32-10, 15-19, 30-19, 21-18 (Cape Verde listed first).

The game was effectively decided in the opening 10 minutes. Cape Verde's 32-10 first quarter — the largest single-quarter lead any team built in Group A during the first round — gave Libya a mountain they could never scale. Ivan Almeida's playmaking and Spencer's inside presence created a rhythm Libya's defence had no answer for.

Patrick Spencer — Player of the Match. Finished with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, dominating the paint on both ends.

Ivan Almeida — The veteran playmaker dished a tournament-high 13 assists, running Cape Verde's offence with intelligence and control.

For Libya, Mohamed Buzgaiya and Naseim Badrush combined for 34 points but received little help as the team committed 20 turnovers.

The 32-point margin was Cape Verde's largest win of the first round and Libya's heaviest defeat of the campaign. Cape Verde's 98 points were a Group A high across all six first-round fixtures. Libya's 10-point first quarter exposed a recurring issue — slow starts that left them chasing games throughout the window. Spencer's double-double (21 pts, 10 reb) and Almeida's 13 assists illustrate how Cape Verde attacked from inside-out, winning the battle of the boards and the playmaking duel.

The result confirmed Cape Verde's second-round qualification alongside Cameroon and South Sudan. All three teams finished with 2-1 records in Group A, with South Sudan claiming top spot on tiebreakers after beating Cape Verde 83-63 on 2 July. Libya exited the competition winless at 0-3.

Cape Verde now advance to the second round of African Qualifiers, scheduled to begin on 27 August 2026, where they will face teams from Group B (Nigeria, Uganda, among others). Their next fixture will be announced once the second-round schedule is confirmed.

Libya's World Cup qualification journey ends here, with the team returning to rebuild after a winless campaign.

Cape Verde saved their best for last. With qualification secured and pressure off, the Blue Sharks played loose and punished Libya with a first-quarter blitz that ranks among the most dominant periods of the African Qualifiers. Spencer's double-double and Almeida's 13-assist masterclass were the standout lines in a performance that signals Cape Verde can compete in the second round — provided they replicate this intensity under pressure.