Rotterdam, home to 25,000 Cape Verdeans, hosted 1,600 fans in a beer garden for an unforgettable World Cup match against Argentina. The Cape Verde team, including six players born in Rotterdam, lost 3-2 but earned immense pride from their supporters.
Diaspora Celebration in Rotterdam
After Cape Verde's draw with Saudi Arabia secured a spot in the last 32, Rotterdam streets erupted with honking cars, flags, and dancing. The city, often called the 10th island of Cape Verde, also hosts diasporas from Curaçao and Morocco celebrating their teams.
Jeffry Fortes, a former Cape Verde international born in Rotterdam, watched from the sidelines. The 37-year-old right-back earned 26 caps before a 2023 fallout with the federation. “As a professional footballer it’s a disappointment to be on the sidelines,” he said. “But as a Cape Verdean, I’m prouder than ever. No one in the world knew us. Now we’re in the spotlight.”
Emotional Match Highlights
At Club Annabel, fans cheered hydration breaks and reacted to goals with joy and despair. Deroy Duarte's equaliser sparked disbelief, while Lisandro Martínez's goal showed how far Cape Verde have come. Sidny Lopes Cabral's curling shot past Emiliano Martínez brought silence before eruption. Diney Borges' header restored Argentina's lead, leaving fans drained but applauding.
Fortes, wearing a shirt with Amílcar Cabral, noted: “We can’t take this for granted. This is the biggest and best moment ever.”
Rotterdam's Role in Cape Verde Football
Fortes debuted in 2014, part of a wave of Rotterdam-born players. Tony Varela, a former Sparta player and PSV coach, recalled early struggles: “For an away game in Africa, we’d sometimes fly all the way up to Europe and back down again. Now we have professional chefs, video analysts.”
Rapper Jerzy Rocha Livramento, known as Jerr, called Fortes and Varela legends. “They brought us where we are now. Some had to buy their own plane tickets out of love for Cabo,” he said. Jerr’s brother, Dailon Livramento, scored four goals in qualifying for the World Cup.
Broader Impact on Cape Verde
Jerr highlighted the diaspora's role: “Our parents came in the 60s looking for a better life. The country they left is still lagging behind. Hopefully this brings more tourists, investors, and prosperity. The boys from Rotterdam made this happen.”
After the match, Fortes headed home, with a pre-season friendly 12 hours away. The night encapsulated Cape Verde’s rise on the world stage, driven by its global diaspora.
