Cape Verde's veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, was reduced to tears after being named man of the match in his country's historic 0-0 draw against Spain at the World Cup. The emotional moment was bittersweet as his mother could not attend the game due to the high cost and complexity of obtaining a US visa.
Man of the Match Performance
Vozinha made seven saves to keep the European champions at bay, earning the man of the match award. He described the game as the culmination of a lifelong dream, saying, "I have worked my whole life for this moment."
Visa Issues Prevent Family Attendance
The goalkeeper revealed that his mother was unable to travel to the United States for the match because of expensive visa requirements. In January, the US government added Cape Verde to a list of countries whose citizens must post a returnable bond of up to $15,000 (£11,200) on top of the visa fee. This financial burden prevented Vozinha's mother from completing her application.
"I cried because my mum didn't manage to be here because of the visa. Because of the money we had to pay for the visa, we didn't manage to get it done on time," Vozinha said. He also expressed sadness that his late grandparents, who raised him, could not witness the achievement.
Unity as Cape Verde's Strength
Vozinha credited his teammates for the clean sheet, stating, "Our best weapon is our unity." He emphasized that Cape Verde came to compete, not just to participate. "Everyone thought we came here just to enjoy the World Cup, but we know we have a team that deserves respect," he added.
Coach's Praise
Cape Verde coach Bubista praised Vozinha's resilience, saying, "Vozinha is overwhelmed by the emotion. He has made a huge effort to be here, and those were tears of resilience." Bubista highlighted the team's courage as a metaphor for the country: "with resilience and overcoming obstacles."
Spain dominated possession but failed to break down Cape Verde's organized defense. Ferran Torres hit the bar in their best chance, but Vozinha stopped everything else on target.
Vozinha, who has been Cape Verde's number one for 13 years, started professional football at age 25 in 2012. He considered quitting but persevered for this dream. "This is for everyone," he said. "I will continue to work for Cape Verde and for the people."
