Praia (Cape Verde) (AFP) – Applause erupted, drums began to beat and car horns honked: Cape Verde's narrow loss to Argentina was cause for celebration early Saturday in Praia as the Blue Sharks' World Cup dream run came to a sad but brilliant end.
Issued on: 04/07/2026 - 06:48
2 min Reading time
Cape Verde supporters in Praia celebrate the team's first goal against Argentina © JOSE CORREIA / AFP
The African archipelago of just over 500,000 people progressed to the knockout stages in their first ever World Cup after drawing with European champions Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in the group stage.However after an epic last-32 contest in Miami where Cape Verde pushed Argentina to the brink, the reigning world champions snatched a 3-2 win to move on, and the rank outsiders' journey was over."We lost the match, but we feel like we achieved a victory because we held our own against the world champions," fan Adilson Soaresz told AFP. "Cape Verde was magnificent".
