Thousands of jubilant fans packed the streets of Praia on Sunday to give Cape Verde’s national soccer team a triumphant welcome home after an extraordinary run at the World Cup came to an end with a narrow 3-2 loss to Argentina in the round of 32.
Supporters waving flags crowded the airport when the players touched down in the nation’s capital, and even more fans lined the roads as the team rode through the city on an open-top truck, making their way to Quebra Canela beach for a festive homecoming gathering.
The celebration fell on July 5 — Cape Verde’s Independence Day — adding an extra layer of national pride to the festivities. The team, nicknamed the Blue Sharks, and their energetic coach Bubista danced to loud music on a stage beneath a banner that read “Obrigado! Cabo Verde” — Portuguese for “Thank you, Cape Verde.”
Goalkeeper Vozinha, who became a social media sensation during the tournament, grabbed a microphone and shouted “What’s up Praia!” to thunderous applause from the crowd.
Cape Verde is a collection of 10 volcanic islands located off the coast of West Africa, with a total population of roughly 500,000 people. The country did not compete in a World Cup qualifier until the early 2000s and entered this year’s tournament ranked 67th in the world.
Despite those modest expectations, the Blue Sharks shocked the global soccer community by holding two former World Cup champions — Spain and Uruguay — to draws in the group stage. That historic run made Cape Verde the least populous nation ever to advance to the knockout rounds of a World Cup.
In their final match, played in Miami last Friday, Cape Verde gave reigning champion Argentina everything they could handle before falling 3-2 after extra time in a thrilling contest that won the hearts of soccer fans worldwide.
