“A founding moment of our collective identity.” Thus, Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade, one of the biggest names in contemporary Portuguese-speaking music, summarized the performance of the Cape Verde team at the 2026 World Cup.
In their first time at the World Cup, the so-called Blue Tubarões said goodbye to the competition in the round of 32 stage. Before that, however, they surprised the world and won over fans of other nationalities by drawing with two world champions (Spain and Uruguay), eliminating Saudi Arabia and facing Lionel Messi’s three-time champion Argentina on equal terms in one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.
“The Blue Sharks gave a lesson in humility and resilience to the world,” said Mayra in an interview with TV Brasil and to Telesurlast Monday (6), two days after the Cape Verdeans were eliminated.
“I’m not a football fan, but I’ve always watched the World Cup. It’s been a huge discovery to understand what it means to support a flag. For us, Cape Verdeans, this is unprecedented”, said Mayra.
For her, Brazilians – used to attending the World Cups – may not understand the feeling that has taken over the archipelago formed by ten volcanic islands 600 kilometers off the African coast and the thousands of Cape Verdeans spread across the world. This was visible in the party with which the players were welcomed upon arriving in Cape Verde, on Sunday (5), the day on which national independence was celebrated.
“Do you think there is any coincidence in this? I don’t think so. It’s all written”, reflected the singer. “You are a football country and you are [acostumados] with this level of competition for many years”, said Mayra, revealing that she surprised many friends with her enthusiasm.
“For us, it was an indescribable, hilarious, powerful, moving feeling. An irrational thing that takes hold of us. And that infected fans of other teams.”
Mayra was at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, supporting her country’s team against Argentina. He vibrated with each move, from the saves by goalkeeper Josimar Dias, Vozinha, who, at 40 years old, gained millions of followers on social media, to the two beautiful goals scored by Deroy Duarte and Sidny Cabral. And although he believed that the team could defeat the South Americans, he did not leave the stadium sad with the result.
“[Nos vestiários] I told the boys, to Vozinha. “We won the Heart Cup. We are the Ace of Hearts of this World Cup”, joked the singer, referring to the suit of the deck that represents love, among other things, and is illustrated by a red heart.
“Is there anything bigger than this? No. Especially at this moment when the world is upside down, it’s chaos”, reflected the artist, admitting that, for her, the Cape Verde team’s campaign at the World Cup had an unexpected effect.
“I’ve been reposting for three years [nas redes sociais] things that have to do with genocide, with the tremendous injustice that is happening in the Middle East, in Palestine. This was the first time my brain disconnected from this chaos. Today, I believe that the World Cup also has this function of allowing a quick disconnection, a breather, even though we cannot completely distract ourselves from the fundamental things for humanity that are happening”, added Mayra.
She appealed for international solidarity with the Venezuelan people, hit by successive earthquakes that killed at least 3,800 people and left thousands missing.
Mayra sees a parallel between the recent success of Tubarões Azuis and the reach of Cape Verdean music and culture, represented by Cesária Évora (1941-2011) and characterized by Portuguese-African syncretism.
“I feel enormous pride in being Cape Verdean. A nation known for its music, for the work of Cesária Évora, for its culture and, now, for a football team”, said the singer, believing that her “petit pays” (from French, small country) has an important role to play.
“Not because we are the navel of the world, but because we are the first Creole people; the people with one of the greatest genetic diversities in the world, a kind of sampling of peoples. Therefore, we have a responsibility to emanate very positive things”, concluded the singer.
Other excerpts from Mayra Andrade’s interview will air on the program Reporting Paths about the archipelago and the unprecedented participation of the Cape Verdean team in the World Cup. The episode will air on TV Brasilnext Monday (13), at 11pm.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
