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On Sunday, the footballers embarked on a celebratory parade through the capital's streets before meeting with the president and other government officials of the small West African archipelago. The homecoming festivities were amplified by coinciding with Cape Verde's Independence Day.
"After the heroes who fought for our independence, we now have these heroes – the Blue Sharks," 28-year-old fan Edmilson Correia told AFP from the airport crowd.
Head coach Bubista addressed the media upon landing. "We showed that our World Cup qualification wasn't just luck. We demonstrated hard work and resilience, and we left the USA with our heads held high," he declared.
Fans, clad in blue jerseys, strained to catch a glimpse of their heroes, such as Sidny Lopes Cabral, who scored a stunning goal in extra time against Argentina, and goalkeeper Vozinha, who became the most followed goalkeeper on Instagram during the World Cup. His account boasted 26 million followers on the day of their return home.
Minister of Culture and Sport, Antonio Duarte, praised the footballers and their coach for solidifying Cape Verde's status as a formidable nation.
More on the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
- Full Schedule
- Complete Results
- Standings
- News from the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- World Cup TV Schedule
- Team Jerseys
- Stadiums
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