Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha's arrival in Chile delayed by visa problems

Cabo Verde's star goalkeeper, Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha, faces a delay in his arrival to Chile due to visa complications. His move to Chilean club Colo Colo is on hold as the team awaits the finalization of his paperwork. The 40-year-old was expected to arrive on Tuesday, July 27, for medical examinations and to sign his contract.

Vozinha, who was named to the FIFA World Cup 2026 ideal team based on fan votes, is reportedly signing a six-month deal with an option for an additional year. He joins Colo Colo as a free agent after his contract with Portugal's Chaves expired. The club reportedly chose him for the opportunity to play, which he sought over other offers that focused on marketing his image.

Vozinha gained significant popularity following his strong performances in the World Cup. He was instrumental in Cabo Verde's goalless draw against eventual champions Spain and impressed in their narrow 3-2 loss to finalists Argentina in the Round of 16. His social media presence is substantial, with nearly 30 million Instagram followers, and his transfer has already boosted Colo Colo's Instagram following by 70,000.

However, Colo Colo faces a challenge regarding player identification on jerseys. Chilean league rules prohibit the use of nicknames on the back of uniforms. Violations could result in administrative yellow cards for Vozinha and fines for the club. Despite this, Colo Colo's president, Anibal Mosa, stated that the signing is not solely for marketing, emphasizing Vozinha's strong World Cup performance.