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.
