Angola’s national football team, nicknamed the “Black Antelopes,” is poised to reclaim its shine as it participates in the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
This marks Angola’s ninth appearance in the tournament, with its debut dating back to the 20th edition hosted by South Africa in 1996.
Notably, the team was absent in the last edition held in Cameroon in early 2022.
In their previous participations, the “Black Antelopes” played 26 matches, securing 4 victories, drawing 12 times, and facing 10 defeats.
They scored 30 goals while conceding 39.
Angola’s best achievement in the African Cup of Nations remains reaching the quarterfinals twice, in Ghana 2008 and Angola 2010.
Angola’s distinctive accomplishment lies in its qualification for the FIFA World Cup once, in Germany 2006.
The team managed two draws and suffered a loss in the group stage, bowing out early in the tournament.
Regionally, Angola clinched the COSAFA Cup title – a competition uniting teams from Southern Africa – three times and secured the runner-up position once.
Currently ranked 117th globally and 28th among African teams in the latest FIFA monthly rankings, Angola has experienced fluctuations in its historical standings.
The team reached its highest rank at 45 in July 2000 and hit its lowest at 147 in March 2017.
Angola secured its place in the finals for the ninth time after finishing second in the qualification group, which included Ghana, Central Africa, and Madagascar.
The team collected 9 points with two wins, three draws, and a single loss, scoring 6 goals while conceding 5.
In Group D of the tournament, Angola will commence its journey with two matches against Algeria and Mauritania on January 15 and 20 at the Stade de la Paix, concluding the group stage against Burkina Faso at the Charles Konan Stadium on January 23.
Pedro Suarez Gonçalves, the 47-year-old Portuguese coach who took charge in August 2019, leads the Angola national team.
In 29 matches under his guidance, the team secured 7 victories, drew 13 times, and suffered 9 defeats, scoring 27 goals while conceding 32.
Not a stranger to Angola, Suarez entered the football atmosphere of the country in 2015, previously overseeing the youth and junior national teams besides a brief stint with Primeiro de Agosto.
The Black Antelopes boast a diverse squad, including the seasoned captain Freddy, a 33-year-old forward playing for Yeni Malatyaspor in Turkey.
Zito Luvumbu, the striker from Cagliari in Italy, is another key figure.
Coach Suarez also relies on prominent players in Arab leagues, such as Gelson Dala, a striker for Qatar’s Al-Wakrah, and Christopher Maboulou, a standout in the Egyptian league over the last three seasons.
The market value of the Angola national team is estimated at €70-30 million, according to Transfermarkt, the global transfer market network.
In terms of historical records, Amado Flavio, the former Al Ahly and Al Shabab player, holds the record for most appearances in the Angola jersey, featuring in 91 matches and scoring 34 goals between 2000 and 2012.
Meanwhile, Fabrice Akwa, the all-time top scorer with 39 goals in 78 matches between 1995 and 2006, remains a significant figure.
Angola’s most substantial victory occurred in 2000 against Swaziland with a resounding 0-7 result, while the team suffered its most significant defeat in 1989 against Portugal, losing 6-0.
The African squad, known as the “Black Antelopes,” aspires to make an impactful return to the grand stage of African football, aiming to recapture its past glory in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
