The streets of Cape Verde's capital, Praia, shook to the deafening sounds of vuvuzelas, chants and car horns, after the Blue Sharks held European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup opener. Though the sides shared the points, for many Cape Verdeans it felt more like a win.
"It was an emotional moment," said Isa Conceição, a supporter who was watching the match from a packed fan zone. Dressed in a blue national team jersey like thousands of others, she erupted with joy at the final whistle. "Being a small country and being able to achieve such a good result against Spain, a football powerhouse, is the greatest feeling ever," she told the BBC.
“Cape Verde fans erupt in joy after Blue Sharks hold Spain to 0-0 draw in World Cup opener.”
Men, women, and children danced to the rhythm of the official World Cup song released by the Cape Verdean Football Federation. As the beats of "nos óra dja txiga" played through the fan zone, supporters chanted along in excitement – some waving the national flag. The phrase is Cape Verdean Creole for "our time has come." It seemed fitting after the small country of about half a million people edged continental giants Cameroon to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in history.
The squad came into the tournament as the underdogs, playing in group H against two former World Cup winning teams – Spain and Uruguay. To France-based visitor Pauline, Cape Verde's performance on Monday could be attributed to the fact that they "played with their hearts." "That's all that matters," she said. A Congolese supporter visiting the islands for the first time added: "I thought Spain was going to win the match, but the energy, the speed of Cape Verde was just amazing."
Many other foreigners were rooting for Cape Verde, the archipelago off the coast of West Africa whose idyllic beaches and landscapes attract about a million tourists every year. Across several neighbourhoods, the country's flags were hoisted on windows, balconies, and even on rooftops. Owners of vehicles plying the streets rejoiced with symbolic honks and screams, most waving the flag or hanging samples by their car windows.
The national team's defensive campaign against a football behemoth such as Spain raised hopes that the squad may even make it beyond the group stage. They will play Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in their next group fixtures, which will determine their fate. But even if they fail to go past the initial round, many told the BBC they will remain proud of the players' contribution to lifting the country's image.