Euphoric homecoming for Cape Verde after heroic World Cup defeat / Photo: © AFP
-
Far-Right Extremists Claim Opportunity to Seize Control of GOP After Midterms
-
Japanese-Born Professor Attributes Rise in Korea-Japan Marriages to K-Drama Influence and Affectionate Behavior
-
New Campaign Highlights Knowledge Gaps on Carbon Monoxide Safety Among Americans
-
Economist Testifies Canada Has Limited Power to Alter Global Climate
-
JR East Launches 'teppay' to Integrate Suica Balance with Mobile Payments
-
Dublin Band Aslan Headlines Our Lady’s Hospice Light Up A Life Ceremony
-
Phil Spencer on Housing Market Fairness: How Buyers and Sellers Navigate Falling Prices
-
UAE Cabinet Approves Up to Dh350,000 in Disaster Relief for Citizens
-
Beirut Cinema Festival Draws Thousands Despite War Fatigue
-
Korea's Severe Asthma Patients Blocked from Biologics by Restrictive Reimbursement Rules
-
AMD Forecasts First-Ever Revenue Lead Over Intel on AI Chip Surge
-
COP31: Ana Toni Outlines Fossil Fuel Transition Roadmap Ahead of Climate Talks
-
GoodData.AI Launches the Agentic Serving Plane, a New Category of Enterprise Data Infrastructure for AI Agents
-
Securitas Healthcare Introduces a New Era of RTLS Built for the Future of Healthcare Operations
-
Abu Dhabi Demand Response Project Achieves 401 MW Peak Reduction in 2025
-
First-time boat buyers advised to assess full ownership costs
-
Panthers expected to begin 2027 NRL season away from new stadium
Euphoric homecoming for Cape Verde after heroic World Cup defeat
Thousands of ecstatic fans greeted Cape Verde's Blue Sharks Sunday, waving banners at the Praia airport as the team returned after its slim defeat to Argentina in one of the World Cup's most surprising matches.
The Sharks are set for a parade through the streets of the capital before meeting with the president and other members of the government of the small archipelago nation off west Africa.
Cape Verde progressed to the knockout stages in their first World Cup, thrilling supporters back home and gaining fans abroad as they confounded expectations.
In an epic last-32 contest in Miami, Cape Verde pushed Argentina to the brink but the reigning world champions snatched a 3-2 win in extra time.
The team's arrival back home coincided with Cape Verde's independence day.
"After the heroes who fought for our independence, we now have these heroes -- the Blue Sharks", fan Edmilson Correia, 28, told AFP from the airport crowd.
Cape Verde head coach Bubista spoke to the press after landing.
"We demonstrated that our World Cup qualification wasn't down to luck. We showed hard work and resilience, and we left the United States with our heads held high", he said.
Supporters dressed in the team blue strained to catch a glimpse of their heroes such as Sidny Lopes Cabral and Vozinha.
Twelve-year-old Ivan Goncalves said he was on the lookout for Cabral in particular because of his "fabulous goal against Argentina".
Minister of Culture and Sports Antonio Duarte commended the Blue Sharks and their coach for "cementing Cape Verde's status as a great nation".
Despite the team's loss to Argentina, celebrations erupted in Praia in the early hours of Saturday morning, as fans commemorated the fairytale journey and slim defeat against the world champions.
Cape Verde, a nation of just 500,000 people, on Sunday marked its 51st anniversary of independence from Portugal, which ruled the country for 500 years.
R.Adler--BTB
