United States (US) government officials are working to bring the mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha to the country in time for the team’s next World Cup match, after visa complications stopped her from watching her son’s heroic performance against Spain.
Vozinha, 40, was the standout player in Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with European champions Spain in Atlanta on Monday, making seven saves in the nation’s first-ever World Cup appearance.
After the match, he revealed that his mother, Ana Candida Evora, could not attend due to visa issues.
“The US rules changed and we had to pay a very big tax to bring my mum here and other brothers I have,” Vozinha told reporters. “We could not do this in time. I will try to get this done at least for them to be here in our last game of the group phase so they can be here.”
Under the “Visa Bond Pilot Program” introduced by the US President Trump’s administration, nationals from 50 countries, including Cape Verde, must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 to obtain a tourist visa to enter the US.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Wednesday that he had spoken directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the matter.
“No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history,” Jeffries said, adding that following his discussions with Rubio: “All fees have been waived consistent with official policy. Travel arrangements are now being made for mother and son to reunite in Miami.”
Jeffries confirmed Vozinha’s mother will join the team in Miami ahead of their Sunday match against Uruguay.
The US State Department said on Wednesday, “We can confirm our visa team in Praia is in close touch with her and providing the needed service.”
The department had previously said on Tuesday that it had “no record” of Vozinha’s mother applying for a visa.
Vozinha was visibly emotional on the pitch after the final whistle. “I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid, and they could not be there. They passed away a few years ago,” he said.
The goalkeeper, who plays for Portuguese second-division side Chaves, also became the oldest player to appear in a nation’s debut World Cup game, at 40 years and 12 days old. His Instagram following has jumped from 50,000 before the Spain match to 12.6 million within three days.
The visa issue extended beyond Cape Verde. Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly also criticised US travel restrictions after his side’s defeat by France on Monday.
“It’s true that some supporters couldn’t fly to America,” Koulibaly said. “I think that every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa cannot have their people,” he said.
It is worth noting that Trump signed a proclamation in December imposing partial travel bans on Senegal, along with Ivory Coast, Iran and Haiti, all of whom have teams at the tournament.
