Cabo Verde has become the smallest nation ever to qualify for a basketball World Cup, according to the International basketball Federation (FIBA).
The country, which has a population of less than 572,000, earned the accolade after defeating Côte d’Ivoire in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers on 26 February.
The two previous record holders were Montenegro and Qatar, which, at the time of their qualifications, had populations of 620,000 and 988,000 respectively.
Had Iceland (pop. 347,000) beat Georgia by more than four points in their face-off Monday, it would have taken the record from Cape Verde, but it clinched victory by just 80 points to Georgia’s 77.
Cabo Verde’s Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva spoke of his “great pride” in the team’s World Cup qualification.
“Today we celebrate together the great achievement of our men’s basketball team,” he said, according to the newspaper A Semana.
“Congratulations to the players, coaching staff and everyone involved in this historic milestone for the nation. Let the next steps and challenges come.”
Angola have meanwhile qualified for their sixth consecutive FIBA World Cup and their ninth overall after defeating Cabo Verde 80-67 on 25 February.
Their best performance in the FIBA World Cup was a ninth-place finish in 2006.
