Cape Verde’s remarkable World Cup journey continued on Tuesday as a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia confirmed their place in the last 32, where they will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The result in Guadalajara, combined with Spain’s victory over Uruguay, ensured the island nation of 530,000 people progressed from Group H as runners-up.
The Cape Verde players erupted in joy after the final whistle, huddling around head coach Bubista to watch the outcome of the other group match on a mobile phone. Goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, has become a social media sensation during the tournament and will now face the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer, Messi, in Miami on Friday.
Vozinha, who was playing in the São Vicente island league at age 29, was barely tested by a Saudi Arabia side that failed to create clear-cut chances. His biggest difficulty came when dealing with the ball at his feet, but he saved comfortably from Mohammed Kanno and Abdullah al-Hamdaan. The veteran keeper’s performances have drawn global attention, with fans roaring his name when his face appeared on the stadium screens.
Cape Verde had opportunities to seal the win, with Nuno da Costa denied by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais and Kevin Pina, who scored a free kick against Uruguay, testing the keeper from range. The team, which includes Shamrock Rovers defender Pico Lopes—recruited via LinkedIn—and captain Ryan Mendes, 36, who plays in Turkey’s second tier, will now face the daunting task of stopping Argentina’s attack.
For neutrals, the match-up is a romantic prospect, pitting one of the tournament’s smallest nations against the defending champions. Cape Verde’s fairytale run has captivated fans, and their clash with Argentina promises to be a historic occasion.
