Cape Verde's veteran goalkeeper, Vozinha, is set for an emotional reunion with his mother in the United States, as she successfully secured a visa to watch her son compete in the World Cup. Ana Candida Evora arrived in Miami on Friday, having travelled from Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, just days before her son's national team faces Uruguay in a pivotal Group H fixture on Sunday.
The US State Department's decision to grant Ms Evora a visa followed heart-felt comments from Vozinha after Cape Verde's surprising 0-0 draw with Spain. In that match, the 40-year-old goalkeeper delivered a stellar performance, earning him the Player of the Match accolade. Following the game, Vozinha expressed his deep desire for his mother to witness his World Cup journey in person, a wish that has now been fulfilled.
Ms Evora was seen emerging from the arrivals area at Miami International Airport, visibly joyful and wearing a pink shirt, as she was greeted by FIFA-accredited staff. She briefly addressed reporters, stating, "I want to wish him good luck and a good match," before continuing her journey towards a reunion with her son. It remains unconfirmed whether she would travel immediately to Tampa, where Vozinha is based, or wait until Sunday's match for their encounter.
Vozinha's profile has soared dramatically this week, particularly after his heroics against Spain. Less than 24 hours after that match, his Instagram follower count skyrocketed to nearly 10 million, a figure that now exceeds that of NBA star Victor Wembanyama and NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This remarkable surge in popularity was significantly boosted by Brazilian YouTube channel CazéTV, which encouraged its vast audience to follow the goalkeeper after noticing his relatively low follower count during their broadcast of the Spain game.
The upcoming match against Uruguay is crucial for Cape Verde as they aim to progress further in the tournament. Vozinha has emphasised the team's need to maintain focus on their footballing objectives despite the personal and team-wide attention they have garnered. The presence of his mother in the stands will undoubtedly add an extra layer of emotion to what is already a significant occasion for the debutants.