"We knew we could do better (in the second half), and that's it ... it's time to celebrate."

After dominating the first half of the final-round qualifier, but seldom threatening to score, the Blue Sharks struck twice through Dailon Livramento and Willy Semedo in the first nine minutes after halftime, in front of a 15,000-strong, flag-waving crowd in Praia.

Livramento claimed his fourth goal of the 10-round qualifying campaign on 48 minutes and Semedo struck six minutes later. Both goals came from close-range tap-ins.

Cape Verde added a third goal in added time when Stopira, a substitute for Joao Paulo, pounced on a loose ball to score.

Cape Verde relies heavily on players born outside the nation to Cape Verdean parents or grandparents. Livramento was born in Rotterdam and Semedo near Paris.

Eswatini had come to the 10-island archipelago with little attacking ambition, adopting a 5-4-1 formation in front of goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala.

'Too emotional'

But, after conceding twice, there was no way back for the team from southern Africa, which lost seven qualifiers and drew the other three.

"It's too emotional. I embrace all the Cape Verdean people, at home and in our great diaspora," said scorer Stopira.

Cape Verde captain and striker Ryan Mendes addedd: "Honestly, I don't have the words to describe this moment. I'm very, very happy."

Cape Verde spread the national team net wide, with three starters based in Portugal and one each from the United States, the Republic of Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, Russia, the Netherlands, Turkiye and Cyprus.

The remarkable qualification of Cape Verde came after it made a disappointing start to the campaign, drawing 0-0 at home with Angola and slumping to a 4-1 loss away to Cameroon.

Those results left the Blue Sharks with four points from a possible nine, having won away to Eswatini in between.