Kevin Lenini etched Cape Verde into World Cup history, striking for a 1-0 victory over Uruguay at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Krasnodar midfielder's goal delivered the island nation's first-ever World Cup goal, a milestone 16 years after their inaugural tournament participation.
Lenini, who has made 118 appearances for Russian Premier League side Krasnodar since 2022, capitalised on a loose ball to fire home. Cape Verde's achievement compounds Uruguay's group-stage jeopardy: the South American side has drawn with Saudi Arabia (1-1) and now lost to Cape Verde, leaving knockout qualification in doubt.
Cape Verde's defensive resilience proved decisive. Their goalkeeper, Voinhya, notched a man-of-the-match performance against Spain with seven saves in a 0-0 draw in round one. The Atlantic nation sits on four points from two matches with Saudi Arabia awaiting on 27 June.
Uruguay must beat Spain on 26 June to retain knockout hopes. The upset reshapes Group H and lifts underdog credentials across World Cup betting markets.