Prediction Libya vs Cape Verde Islands 2026 – Betting Tips for the CAF World Cup Qualifiers on 08/10/2025

Showdown in the Group: Libya chase points while Cape Verde defend top spot

Two sides with contrasting profiles meet on 8 October in a slice-of-table clash that could define the route to Qatar qualifying for this group. Libya arrive in respectable form, sitting third with 14 points from eight matches and a fairly mixed recent record. Cape Verde Islands top the group on 19 points and look like the steadiest unit in this section: six wins, a single loss and six clean sheets recorded in the campaign so far. The numbers set up a classic encounter between a home side fighting for ground and an away team that has been hard to break down.

Libya — momentum at home, fine margins in attack

Libya have been productive at home, contributing six of their nine group goals there and picking up crucial wins in September against Angola (1-0) and Eswatini (2-0). Their group record — four wins, two draws and two defeats — shows resilience, and the team has shown it can grind out 1-0 victories when needed. Their recent form string reads as mixed but capable: a blend of wins and stalemates with three clean sheets in the campaign pointing to an ability to keep things tight on their turf.

Cape Verde Islands — defensive muscle and clinical chances

Cape Verde’s campaign reads like textbook efficiency. Ten goals scored, five conceded and an outstanding six clean sheets underline a side that defends with discipline and produces the decisive moment when needed. Recent wins include a narrow 1-0 success over Cameroon and a 2-0 victory over Mauritius — results that show they win without needing high-scoring thrillers. They also beat Libya 1-0 in the previous head-to-head, a hint that the visitors already know how to handle this opponent.

Tactical and statistical context — why goals might be scarce

Shot data and scoring patterns point toward a low-scoring contest. Cape Verde average more shots overall and more dangerous attacks, but the conversion of chances into goals in this group has been modest — over 2.5 goals has appeared in only 25% of matches for both sides. Clean sheets heavily favour Cape Verde (six in the competition), while Libya have been solid at home with three shutouts. The h2h history and recent scorelines — a 1-0 meeting last time out, multiple 1-0 and 2-0 results from both teams recently — all point to tight, controlled encounters rather than goal-fests. Bookmakers offer relatively level match-winner odds (Libya 2.55, Draw 2.95, Cape Verde 2.90), underscoring an expectation of a competitive, close game.

Prediction and Betting Tips

Expect a cagey, tactical tie where defences have the edge. Both teams are experienced at managing tight affairs in this qualifying group, and Cape Verde’s record of shutouts makes them difficult to break down away from home. The clearest value given the form and statistics is in the goals market rather than a straight match-winner punt.

Suggested bet

Under 2.5 goals. The combination of Cape Verde’s clean-sheet record, recent low-scoring head-to-heads, and both teams’ recent results suggests a low-scoring match. Stake sensibly — this is a competitive fixture and the price on the match-winner market reflects a balanced tie, so the goals market offers a sharper edge.