Cape Verde coach claims World Cup showing is for underdogs across Africa

[p]The Blue Sharks went a long way to proving ‌their point when, making their World Cup debut, they put together a brilliant defensive display to hold European ‌champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/cape-verde-MocyWdm7/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=Iiqjm5Pq"]to a 0-0 draw on Monday[/a].[/p][p]On Sunday, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/cape-verde-MocyWdm7/uruguay-xMk44orG/?mid=4pPp9nn3"]they take on[/a] South ‌American powerhouse [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uruguay/xMk44orG/"]Uruguay[/a] at Miami Stadium looking to remain on course for their goal of ‌reaching the knockout stage from Group H.[/p][p]"[b]We not only represent [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape Verde[/a], we ‌also represent [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]Africa[/a], with all the problems we have within our continent,[/b]" Bubista said on Saturday.[/p][p]"[b]A country like ours being able to achieve this dream and be here competing with the best teams in ‌the world means that any child in Africa ... can ⁠have this dream.[/b][/p][p]"[b]The objective is that this ‌dream can help them believe they can reach any goal[/b]."[/p][p]Bubista said his squad's World Cup campaign ​was also intended to put Cape Verdeans, not just those who were born on the islands but also in the diaspora, firmly on the global ​map.[/p][p]"[b]We have spent many years working, searching, striving so that our country can be known to the world,[/b]" he added.[/p][p]"[b]You can see how happy our people are everywhere ⁠because of what the team has ​achieved.[/b][/p][p]"[b]But more than that, our national team shows our identity: organisation, fighting for things even while knowing they are difficult, and fighting to achieve them with character and determination.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="3e09a039-a588-4eb4-ac20-c86b48ba710b" url="https://x.com/BarcaUniversal/status/2066825108501504085?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Bubista said the players were confident in the strategies that kept Spain goalless but said the ‌team would look to go on the offensive a bit more against Uruguay and in their final group game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/saudi-arabia/biSY8ox4/"]Saudi Arabia[/a].[/p][p]"[b]We would have liked to do more in attacking terms, but we have to understand the quality of Spain,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]Obviously, we feel we can do more offensively, and we will try to do that in the next two games[/b]."[/p][p]The Spain result triggered a tsunami of support for, and interest in, the Cape Verde team, not least Player of the Match [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vozinha/Q9F1vw7H/"]Vozinha[/a].[/p][p]The 40-year-old goalkeeper gained millions of followers on Instagram overnight and his post-match tears over his mother not ‌being in the stadium to watch his big moment attracted huge sympathy.[/p][p]That wave of ​support galvanised the U.S. State Department into action so Vozinha's mother was able ‌to arrive in Miami on Friday in plenty of time for Sunday's game.[/p][p]Bubista said he was not concerned that all the outside noise this week had been a distraction for his players.[/p][p]"[b]We are happy about the impact, because more than anything, we showed that nothing is impossible[/b]," he said.[/p][p]"[b]We, as a team, are ⁠focused. We are very calm. We know ⁠we have to be 200% concentrated. ‌Our team is very united and has a lot of enthusiasm.[/b]"[/p]