Tens of thousands of fans transformed Praia's airport into a sea of blue on Sunday as Cape Verde's Blue Sharks returned from their historic World Cup debut. The homecoming coincided with the island nation's 51st independence anniversary, amplifying the celebration for a team that arrived ranked 67th globally and represented the tournament's second-smallest country.

Cape Verde exited after a dramatic knockout loss to Argentina, but not before pushing the reigning champions to the brink. The Blue Sharks earned three group-stage draws, including a 0-0 stalemate against European champions Spain in their opener. Against Argentina, they twice erased deficits — first answering a Messi strike, then leveling again through Sidny Lopes Cabral in extra time — before a cruel deflection off Diney Borges from Cristian Romero's header settled the match.

Goalkeeper Vozinha and centre-back Pico Lopes drew the loudest cheers, while captain Ryan Mendes signed shirts for supporters. Manager Bubista framed the run as proof that a small nation can compete with the world's elite, telling reporters the team "made history for our country." The performance reshapes expectations for Cape Verde football and signals a rising African contender for future tournaments.