Cape Verde, an island nation off the west coast of Africa with a population of about 525,000, stayed on track for a first World Cup appearance by winning 2-0 in Mauritius on Thursday.

Portugal-based Jovane Cabral scored after 22 minutes in the village of Saint-Pierre and Diney Borges, who plays for a United Arab Emirates club, added a second goal on 71 minutes.

Victory lifted the Blue Sharks to 16 points in Group D, one more than Cameroon, whose eight World Cup appearances is an African record.

Recent Manchester United recruit Bryan Mbeumo provided two assists as Cameroon scored three times in the first half to overcome Eswatini 3-0 in Yaounde.

The visitors fell behind after only six minutes when Gift Gamedze conceded an own goal. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou and Arthur Avom then nettedc within three minutes midway through the half.

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Cape Verde host Cameroon in Praia on Tuesday and, should the islanders triumph, they would need three points in October from their remaining two qualifiers to win the group and qualify.

Between October 8-14, Cape Verde visit third-placed Libya, then return home to face current bottom team Eswatini in the final matchday.

Local Pedro Leitao Brito, a 55-year-old popularly known as Bubista, has coached Cape Verde since 2020 and took them to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals in the Ivory Coast last year.

Libya rose one place to third by surprising Angola 1-0 in Luanda through a 48th-minute goal from Ezoo el Mariamy.

Meanwhile, Group I leaders Ghana conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 in Chad — a result which ended a run of four straight victories by the Black Stars.