Angola had an incredibly impressive campaign for the 2022 African Nations Championship. In both rounds of the qualifiers, the Giant Sable Antelopes ran riot starting with their 3-0 on aggregate win over Mauritius and went on to annihilate South Africa with a 6-1 victory in the second leg. Angola were recipients of own goals from both Les Dodos and Bafana Bafana in the qualifiers.
Match Calendar
16 January 2023: Mali vs Angola, 20h00 local time, Oran
20 January 2023: Angola vs Mauritania, 17h00 local time, Oran
*Coach
Pedro Gonçalves has been with the Antelopes since 2019 after a successful spell with the nation’s Under-17 side which he led to their debut 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Brazil. Under his leadership, Gonçalves has managed to take the senior team to greater heights. The year 2022 was one of the best for the team. The Palancas Negras won eight out of their 12 games and only lost once including qualifying the team to their fourth CHAN competition taking place in Algeria.
Players to watch
*Augusto de Jesus Corte Real Carneiro
Birth: November 5 1995
Position: Defender
Club: Petro de Luanda
Joaquim Paciencia
Birth: July 7 1996
Position: Defender
Club: Sagrada Esperança
Ambrosini António Cabaça Salvador
Birth: July 3 2022
Position: Striker
Club: Primeiro de Agosto.
History in CHAN
The Antelopes will be playing in their fourth Championship and they will be hoping their form in the qualifiers will continue into the tournament with the hopes of doing better than their last appearance in 2018. They left the competition in the quarter finals round. They were eliminated after losing 2-1 to Nigeria.
The Gonçalves led side has had a podium finish in the competition before, they took home the silver medal in the 2011 edition after they lost to Tunisia by 3-0.
History of local football
Pedro de Luanda has been a consistent representative of Angola in continental competitions. The have had nine appearances in the CAF Champions League and their semi final finish in the 2021-22 season is their highest finish in the competition. They have also represented the country in the CAF Confederation Cup seven times.
Sagrada Esperança, 1º de Agosto and Rec do Libolo are some of the teams that have represented the country in the various continental competitions over the years as well.
