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HomeSportsCape Verde Blue Sharks return home, fans celebrate historic World Cup run

Cape Verde Blue Sharks return home, fans celebrate historic World Cup run

Cape Verde football team don return to their country and thousands of supporters welcome dem with joy, after dem make history for World Cup.

The Blue Sharks land for capital city Praia on Sunday, after Argentina knock dem out for a thrilling match wey go to extra time.

Fans turn the airport ground into carnival, dem dey bang drum, dance, chant and wave national flag.

Goalkeeper Vozinha, wey draw global attention with his performance, tell BBC: ‘Na very great moment for us to be here with our people.’

Vozinha, real name Josimar José Évora Dias, wear white T-shirt wey carry country name, talk say dem wanted something bigger but no go next stage, so dem just enjoy moment and celebrate.

One supporter tell BBC she come homecoming to show gratitude to Blue Sharks, wey be second-smallest nation for World Cup and never play tournament before, but dem hold their own against giants like Spain and Uruguay.

Fans at airport scream Vozinha name, and other stars like centre-back Pico Lopes.

Players take turns to sign fans football tops.

The homecoming happen same time as Cape Verde independence day, when island dey celebrate 51 years since Portuguese colonial rule end.

Cape Verde come World Cup ranked 67th for world, but three group-stage draws – including holding European champions Spain 0-0 for opening game – set up monumental task to cause one of biggest upsets World Cup ever see.

Against Argentina, dem go behind to Messi goal, but come back to level at 1-1 and take game to extra time.

Then dem go behind again, before stunning strike from Sidny Lopes Cabral level once more.

But no be so, because cruel deflection off Diney Borges from Cristian Romero header see Argentina through.

Despite defeat, Cape Verde manager Pedro Leitão Brito, also known as Bubista, proud of team wey come within 10 minutes of forcing Argentina into penalty shootout.

He talk: ‘We show that we may be small country but we can play against best teams for world. That na reason for pride. We make history for our country. Dem can be proud for representing our country.’


Oyinkansola Aderonke
Oyinkansola Aderonkehttps://nnn.ng/
Oyinkansola Aderonke na reporter for NNN. NNN dey publish hot-hot tori for Nigeria and around di world for naija pidgin language so dat every Nigerian go fit follow national news, no mata dia level of school. NNN dey only publish tori wey be true-true, wey get credibility, wey dem fit verify, wey get authority, and wey dem don investigate well-well.
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