Cape Verde, a tiny nation of about 500,000 people, is on the brink of a major sports moment. With a win over Saudi Arabia on Friday, they would advance to the round of 32 in the World Cup.
A Long Shot No More
The Blue Sharks were initially given a 12% chance to advance from the group stage, but they have defied expectations. A pair of draws against Spain and Uruguay have them in an ideal position.
Defender Roberto Lopes said, “It’s in our hands. We have to go and take it.” The team is aware of the celebrations back home and the fact that they have become a sentimental favorite around the globe.
A Community Abroad
In Brockton, Massachusetts, which has the largest concentration of the Cape Verdean diaspora in the US, fans gathered at Luanda Restaurant to watch the team’s first World Cup match. The owner, Amélia Goncalves, said the team’s story resonates with the Cape Verdean community.
The team’s success has also drawn attention to the country’s history of immigration. Many Cape Verdeans found work on American whaling vessels in the 1800s and eventually settled in port cities in states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
