Luanda - The quarter-final match between Angola and Nigeria, scheduled for Friday at the Félix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, has a very important significance for Angola, after many years without reaching this stage.
This is the third time that the National team well known as “Palanca Negras” have reached this stage, which was in 2010.
This was said Thursday in the Côte d'Ivoire capital city by the coach of the National Team, Pedro Gonçalves, at a press conference to launch the match between the Angolans and the Nigerians, scheduled for today at 6pm in Abidjan.
According to him, it's an opportunity to be able to face Nigeria, considered an African powerhouse and a worthy continental representative in world football.
"We're going to play a powerful team, but we are looking at this game from the perspective of an opportunity that has been won with a lot of hard work, sweat and determination, especially by the players, the technical team and all the staff involved," he said.
To reach this stage, the national squad won group D, with seven points, as a result of a draw (1-1) against Algeria, victories over Mauritania (3-2) and Burkina Faso (2-0).
In the round of 16, Angola beat Namibia, 3-0, with two goals from Gelson Dala and one from Mabululo.
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON`2023) takes place in Côte d'Ivoire from 13 January to 11 February.
FN/MRA/DOJ
