One of the highlights of Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup was not a goal from the Albiceleste, but the construction of the African team’s 2-2 draw.
The action began at the feet of the goalkeeper Vozinha and finished with a powerful mid-distance shot from Sidny Lopes Cabral at minute 103, after a sequence of more than 11 consecutive passes in which the Cape Verdean soccer players moved the ball from their own field to the edge of the Argentine area without losing possession.
The play reflected one of the main strengths of Cape Verde during the tournament: the clean start from the back, the patient circulation of the ball and the confidence to maintain possession even in the face of pressure from the current world champion.
A goal that summed up the identity of Cape Verde
Lopes Cabral’s goal was not an isolated action.
For a good part of the match, the team led by Pedro Leitão Brito avoided resorting to hitting the ball and opted to build its attacks through short passes and constant support, a proposal that allowed it to compete on an equal footing against one of the strongest teams in international football.
The sequence that ended in a 2-2 draw synthesized that idea of the game and confirmed that the African team arrived at the World Cup with a defined tactical proposal.
Argentina suffered again in the transitions
The play also exposed some of Argentina’s defensive difficulties.
During the build-up to the attack, the Albiceleste failed to regain possession and allowed Cabo Verde to progress until finding space for Lopes Cabral’s shot.
The shot from outside the area surprised the Argentine defense and forced the world champion to play the rest of extra time with the tie once again tied.
A World Cup that changed the perception of Cape Verde
Although Argentina ended up qualifying with a 3-2 victory, Cape Verde’s performance was among the most memorable images of the round of 32.
In its first World Cup participation, the African team tied against Spain and Uruguay in the group stage and took the reigning world champion to extra time.
The sequence of 11 passes that culminated with Sidny Lopes Cabral’s goal ended up summarizing the football personality of a team that stopped being the surprise of the tournament to become one of its main revelations.