Following Cape Verde’s victory against Angola, the national coach of the Blue Sharks, Lucio Antunes, expressed his admiration for his players. He described them as fantastic and highlighted their determination throughout the game. In an interview with the CAN 2013 website, Antunes said, “I said before the match that we would play to win and to try to qualify. What more can I say other than that all the players were great. They showed determination throughout the game. Tonight I am a very happy man for the players, for myself, and for our country.”
On the other side, Gustavo Ferrin, the coach of the Angolan team, did not hide his disappointment despite a strong first half. Ferrin mentioned that Cape Verde resorted to aerial balls, which proved effective for them. He expressed his disappointment, stating, “We had a great first half. Then Cape Verde resorted to aerial balls and it worked for them. When we were tied, we knew we were out. So we threw ourselves into the battle to win the match. And we got caught up in the end. I am very disappointed, but my players gave their maximum.”
The contrasting emotions of joy for Cape Verde and disappointment for Angola showcase the intensity and unpredictability of the tournament.
