The Cape Verde national football team came back to a hero’s welcome on Sunday. Tens of thousands of excited supporters turned the capital, Praia, into a big celebration after the Blue Sharks' historic FIFA World Cup journey.
Even though they lost to reigning champions Argentina, fans welcomed the players with joy. The airport was filled with singing, dancing, drumming, chanting, and waving of Cape Verdean flags. The team surprised many by reaching this stage of the tournament.
This emotional homecoming happened just days after Cape Verde exited the tournament. It also coincided with the country’s Independence Day, marking 51 years since they gained freedom from Portuguese colonial rule.
Vozinha enjoys special reception
Goalkeeper Vozinha, who impressed many with his skills during the matches, shared that this welcome was a special moment for the players and the nation.
“It is a very great moment for us to be here with our people,” said Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias. He spoke to the supporters during the celebration.
“We wanted something bigger, but we didn’t go through to the next stage. Now we enjoy the moment and celebrate with our people.”
The airport turned into a sea of blue as fans chanted Vozinha’s name and that of other stars like centre-back Pico Lopes. Players signed autographs on fans' shirts and took pictures with them.
One fan told the BBC that she came to the homecoming to thank the team for inspiring the nation.
Cape Verde entered the World Cup as the second-smallest nation in the tournament. They made their debut on this big stage. The Blue Sharks showed they could compete with top teams like Spain, Uruguay, and eventual champions Argentina.
A memorable World Cup journey
Before the tournament, Cape Verde was ranked 67th in the world but surprised everyone with their performance.
They secured three hard-fought draws in the group stage, including a memorable goalless match against European champions Spain in their first game. This earned them a historic spot in the knockout rounds, where they faced Argentina.
In the match against Lionel Messi and the Argentina team, Cape Verde played bravely. Argentina took the lead with a goal from Messi, but the Blue Sharks equalized at 1-1 and pushed the game into extra time.
Argentina regained the lead, but Cape Verde struck back with a stunning goal from Sidny Lopes Cabral, making it 2-2. Just when it seemed the match would go to penalties, heartbreak hit when Cristian Romero’s header took a bad deflection off Diney Borges and went in, ending Cape Verde's amazing World Cup run.
Bubista: ‘We made history’
Even with the painful loss, head coach Pedro Leitão Brito, known as Bubista, said his players gave the country many reasons to celebrate.
“We showed that we may be a small country, but we can play against the best teams in the world,” he said.
“That’s a reason for pride. We made history for our country. They can be proud of representing our country.”
Although their incredible journey ended just before the semifinals, Cape Verde’s performance captured the hearts of football fans worldwide. Many supporters in Praia on Sunday celebrated not the loss but a team that dared to dream and challenged some of the biggest names in football, returning home as national heroes.
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