In brief
Cape Verde’s national football team, the Blue Sharks, were greeted by tens of thousands of cheering supporters on returning to Praia after their impressive World Cup performance, which included a 0‑0 draw with Spain and a valiant match against Argentina. The airport turned into a carnival of drums and flags, as fans celebrated the team’s rare televised debut and national pride tied to the anniversary of independence. Captain Ryan Mendes, goalkeeper Vozinha and centre‑back Pico Lopes drew the crowd’s support as they signed shirts, while the country’s manager expressed pride in their near escape into a penalty shootout. Their run has energized the nation, highlighting the island’s growing football identity on the world stage.
Capitalize on a historic moment, Praia’s main airport was transformed into a vibrant celebration as thousands of fans erupted to welcome the Cape Verde national football team back home following an unforgettable World Cup campaign. The Blue Sharks, who had never before appeared on the biggest football stage, managed to hold Spain, a reigning European champion, to a 0‑0 draw in their opening game and then pushed Argentina close to the brink of a penalty shootout, a feat that stunned football pundits and the nation alike.
In a display of national pride, on the evening of their return, then a metal fence lined the airport grounds while supporters waved flags, performed traditional drums and sung chants. Among the heroes present was goalkeeper Vozinha, who, after an exceptionally defensive stand at the 34th minute of the match against Argentina, appeared visibly emotional. “It is a very great moment for us to be here with our people,” Vozinha told the BBC in a tearful interview.
Mayor Paulo Mendes, Captain of the squad, shared that while the team had had the chance to pursue a different fate, the moment was about celebrating with supporters while they were still standing. “We wanted something bigger but we didn't go to the next stage. Now we just enjoy the moment and celebrate with our people.”
The arrival coincided with Cape Verde’s 51st anniversary of independence, a day that added significance to the celebrations. By the end of the first match, the joy and tears that came from that extraordinary roster gave the nation a new shared narrative of hope and achievement.
Meanwhile, fans and players joined in the crowd’s spectacle: clouds of chant and the clergy and mayor in the background turned the action into a carnival. At the counters in the airport, players took turns to sign shirts for the fans. The most celebrated souls in the game – such as the country's famed central defender, heavy or a shot making player, Pico Lopes – whose memory is conserved by his playing style is very popular. The article featured the image of each player at the points that had outstanding things within the island – Ro 'Pico Lopes’ in the last one.
