Miami, Jun 22 (V7N) – An emotional storyline emerged from Cape Verde’s thrilling 2-2 draw with Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup, as goalkeeper Vojinha’s mother, Ana Candida Évora, watched her son play live from the stadium on a day filled with celebration and emotion.

The match, held at the Miami Stadium on Sunday night in front of more than 64,000 spectators, was not only defined by on-field action but also by the heartfelt presence of Évora, who traveled to the United States after resolving earlier visa complications. She watched the game from a special suite inside the stadium.

Before kickoff, FIFA released a video message featuring Évora, where she delivered an emotional and motivational speech to the Cape Verde squad. Addressing the players, she encouraged them to remain confident and fight for success on the field.

“Keep your heads up, fight for the goal on the field, then you will play well, my boys,” she said, while affectionately referring to the team as the “Blue Sharks.”

Cape Verde are popularly known as the “Blue Sharks,” reflecting their Portuguese nickname Tubarões Azuis.

Évora’s journey to Miami had been widely discussed after initial visa issues prevented her from attending Cape Verde’s opening match against Spain. Her visa was later secured through coordination between FIFA and the U.S. State Department, allowing her to arrive in Miami ahead of the Uruguay clash, where she was welcomed by officials upon landing.

Her emotional reunion with her son added a deeply human dimension to Cape Verde’s inspiring World Cup campaign, which has already captured global attention following their strong performances in the group stage.

Meanwhile, Vojinha has also been trending on social media after his standout performances, including Cape Verde’s earlier goalless draw against Spain, which significantly boosted his profile worldwide.

Cape Verde will now face Saudi Arabia in their final group-stage match, with qualification to the knockout rounds still within reach. A potential Round of 16 clash against Argentina also remains a possibility depending on final group results.

END/SMA/AJ