PRAIA: Thousands of flag-waving fans gathered in Cape Verde’s capital to welcome the returning national soccer team after their stunning debut World Cup performance, mobbing the players as they left the airport. In downtown Praia, at one of the country’s most prestigious training academies, students as young as nine say it is just the start of their island nation’s transformation into a powerhouse of the sport.

Cape Verde’s World Cup journey has come to an end, but the island nation leaves the tournament with valuable memories and a new level of recognition.

(Adds link to photo essay)By Sodiq Adelakun and Julio RodriguesPRAIA, July 9 : Thousands of flag-waving fans gathered in Cape Verde's capital to welcome the returning national…