The route, which began at the airport, carried the team through the capital's main districts as throngs of supporters played music and cheered, making forward movement difficult at times.The Sharks will meet with the president of the small, African archipelago later in the evening, but had to cancel a stop at the National Assembly after it became too difficult given the enthusiastic crowd.
The Blue Sharks parade through the streets of the capital before meeting with the president © Jose Correia / AFP
Cape Verde progressed to the knockout stages in their first World Cup, thrilling supporters back home and gaining fans abroad as they confounded expectations.In an epic last-32 contest in Miami on Friday, Cape Verde pushed Argentina to the brink but the reigning world champions snatched a 3-2 win in extra time.The team's arrival back home Sunday coincided with Independence Day in Cape Verde, a nation of just 500,000 people which was liberated from Portugal in 1975 after being ruled by the country for some 500 years.
Throngs of supporters played music and cheered as Cape Verde's Blue Sharks made their way through Praia © Jose Correia / AFP
"After the heroes who fought for our independence, we now have these heroes -- the Blue Sharks", fan Edmilson Correia, 28, told AFP at the airport, where he had gathered with other fans, many carrying flags and dressed in blue.Ahead of the parade goalkeeper Vozinha told reporters that he believed his team had "achieved something magnificent" even if he had not yet "fully grasped the magnitude of what we've just accomplished".The parade ended at Kebra Kanela beach, the city's main seaside area, where thousands more fans celebrated the team with prolonged applause and drums.Raised the barCape Verde head coach Bubista told the press upon landing back in Praia that: "We demonstrated that our World Cup qualification wasn't down to luck".
