Cape Verde's heroic goalkeeper, Vozinha, will be reunited with his mother at the World Cup in the United States after a diplomatic intervention secured her a visa. The 40-year-old's emotional post-match interview, where he spoke of his mother's inability to attend due to visa costs, garnered widespread attention following his exceptional performance against Spain.
Vozinha was instrumental in Cape Verde's surprising 0-0 draw against tournament favourites Spain in Atlanta, making seven crucial saves and earning him the man-of-the-match accolade. His performance led to an astonishing surge in his Instagram following, from approximately 50,000 to over 12 million.
Following the match, the goalkeeper was visibly moved, expressing sorrow that his late grandparents and his mother were not present to witness his World Cup debut. He explained that his mother had been unable to secure a visa for travel to the US because she could not afford the returnable bond of around £11,200 (15,000 USD) required.
However, in a significant turn of events, Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader of the US House of Representatives, announced that he had successfully arranged a visa for Vozinha's mother. Mr Jeffries stated he had spoken directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to facilitate the process, ensuring she could attend Cape Verde's upcoming match against Uruguay in Miami.
Mr Jeffries posted on X, stating, "No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history." He added that all fees associated with the visa had been waived, consistent with official policy, and that travel arrangements were now being made for the mother and son to reunite. He extended thanks to Secretary Rubio, US State Department officials, the government of Cabo Verde, and FIFA for their collaborative efforts.
Vozinha had previously shared his feelings after the Spain game: "I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here; they died a few years ago. They were everything for me, for my life. I also 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. I would like her to be here, but I’m also very happy."