Angola’s coach, the Portuguese tactician Pedro Gonçalves, conceded that Nigeria’s triumph in the CAN2023 quarter-final was well-earned, emphasizing the Super Eagles’ superiority throughout the match.
Gonçalves, reflecting on the encounter, expressed a pragmatic assessment of the challenges his team faced against a formidable Nigerian side.
He highlighted the intensity of the match and acknowledged Nigeria’s commendable performance, stating, “We shouldn’t dream too much; the intensity was so high.
We came across a very good team from Nigeria who did not lose their qualification.”
The coach recognized Nigeria’s effectiveness, particularly in the final third of the field, where the Super Eagles demonstrated their prowess.
Despite Angola having a few goal-scoring opportunities, Gonçalves commended Nigeria and its players for securing the well-deserved qualification to the semi-finals.
Addressing the overall performance of his squad, Gonçalves found solace in the achievements of the Angola team, emphasizing the positive outcome of reaching the quarter-finals.
“Indeed, we are satisfied. We have built a good team and a cohesive group.
It’s our first defeat during this African Cup of Nations… We were undefeated and we only lost by one goal,” he remarked.
Looking ahead to the future of the Angola team, Gonçalves expressed optimism and hinted at the team’s potential reinforcements with quality young players.
Drawing from his experience as the coach of the under-23s, he anticipated witnessing an even stronger Angola team in the upcoming competitions.
In gracefully acknowledging Nigeria’s triumph and setting the stage for the evolution of Angola’s footballing prowess, Pedro Gonçalves showcased sportsmanship and a forward-looking perspective for the Palancas Negras.
