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Cape Verde's national football team players were welcomed home as heroes following their World Cup campaign, where they were narrowly defeated by reigning champions Argentina in extra time during the Round of 16.
Tens of thousands of locals flocked to the airport in the capital, Praia, and then accompanied the players and officials through the streets in a carnival-like atmosphere. The team's return coincided with Cape Verde's Independence Day, marking 51 years since the end of Portuguese colonial rule in 1975.
Cape Verde delivered a sensational performance in their World Cup debut, securing draws against former champions Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia, before ultimately falling 3-2 to Argentina in extra time.
"This is a truly great moment for us to be here with our people," goalkeeper Vozinha told the BBC. "We aimed for something bigger, but we didn't make it to the next stage. Now, we're just enjoying the moment and celebrating with our nation," he added.
The 40-year-old Vozinha emerged as a standout star, with a series of spectacular saves making him a social media sensation, garnering over 26 million Instagram followers after having only a few thousand before the tournament.
Head coach Bubista added: "We showed that we might be a small country, but we can compete against the best teams in the world. This is a source of immense pride. We wrote history for our country. They can be proud to be represented in this way."
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