Angola’s national football team, the Sable Antelopes, are gearing up for what promises to be a challenging journey towards qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The team, which impressed during their last outing at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, is now set to face an arduous test in Group F, where they will come up against four-time AFCON champions Ghana, Sudan and Niger.
Head coach Pedro Goncalves, reflecting on Angola’s upcoming qualifiers, has acknowledged the formidable challenge that Ghana presents.
The Black Stars, a powerhouse in African football, boasts an impressive record of 24 AFCON participations and four titles, making them one of the most successful teams on the continent.
“They are the third with the best ranking, four titles, and 24 participations,” Goncalves noted. “Ghana is a very powerful team full of talents and with whom we recently played in the previous AFCON qualification. Therefore, we know well the power they possess.”
Goncalves was quick to acknowledge that, despite Ghana’s recent underwhelming performance at the last AFCON, the Black Stars remain a formidable force. “Despite ending up a little lower than their expectations at the last AFCON, Ghana is still a very powerful team,” he said.
Angola’s coach expressed confidence in his team’s growth and potential but stressed the unpredictability of the group, which also includes Sudan and Niger. However, he remains determined to lead Angola to a historic 10th appearance at the continental finals.
“We believe that Angola has the potential to reach the final stage, and that is a great goal we have—to be present in all the major national team competitions. AFCON is a very important competition, and we have seen our growth with the national team, which revealed our performance in the last edition. Therefore, within our reach and with our resources, we will do everything to excel and be present in Morocco in 2025.”
As Angola prepares for the tough road ahead, Goncalves’ focus on Ghana underscores the level of respect and caution his team must approach the qualifiers with. The clash between Angola and Ghana is expected to be one of the highlights of the Group F qualifiers, with both teams eager to secure their spot in the prestigious tournament in Morocco.
