Africa-Press – Angola. The U-23 National Football Team will face, today, at 16:00, at Estádio 11 de Novembro, in Luanda, the similar team from Cameroon, in a match referring to the first leg of the second and penultimate round of access to the final phase of the IV edition of the Championship Nations (CAN), which will be held in June 2023, in Morocco.
After having defeated the Namibian counterpart in the previous round, by an expressive 8-1 (2-1 and 6-0), in the sum of two matches played, in Luanda, the national team has, this afternoon, a more complex task facing to an opponent, surely more difficult.
Coach Miller Gomes will surely put together a cohesive and strong defensive scheme to cancel out the main Cameroonian units. In fact, that was evident in yesterday’s and Thursday’s training sessions, in which the Under-23s carefully rehearsed their defensive organization and quick departures for offensive actions, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of the forwards.
To overcome the Indomitable Lions, the national team will have to direct the game initiatives, try to score the goal earlier, in order to irritate the opponent in the sense of giving up spaces on the field of play.
Despite the scintillating names of the opponent, the National Team players do not fear. The fact that the Palancas have the support of the public to overshadow the opposition, in a challenge that is expected to be balanced, is a fact in their favor.
The home factor does not win the game. Therefore, Miller Gomes and guys must be very pragmatic in approaching the opponent’s game initiatives. In fact, the Indomitable Lions will appear on November 11th ready to get a good result, which would make their lives easier, as the decisive tie will be played in Cameroon.
Coach Guy Feutchine’s “armada” is made up mostly of players who play abroad, among them is Etienne Esopo, son of former Indomitable Lions goalscorer Samuel Eto’o, current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation.
The 20-year-old forward, 1.91m, plays for UD Poblense in Spain. He made his Under-20 debut, scoring two goals at the finals of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Niger in 2019.
However, the preparation carried out by the Palancas Negras, combined with the potential of the players called up by the coach Miller Gomes, will surely be lethal, for a good performance and result this afternoon.
Coach Miller Gomes puts trust in the group
The U-23 national football coach, Miller Gomes, assured this Friday that the Angolan team is prepared to obtain a good result in this afternoon’s match, against the Cameroonians, as the players trained exclusively to beat the opponent. .
“The important thing is to focus on our strengths, to overcome Cameroon and think about the possibility of qualifying. The group is motivated”, said the coach to the press.
Miller Gomes recognizes that he will make some changes to the squad, due to the absence of many players called up for the double challenge with the Indomitable Lions.
“Some players have come to reinforce this group. There are many changes, in the order of 50 percent, due to many who could not come from the diaspora and internally. We had very little time to work, we basically had the complete group on Wednesday”, clarified the coach in the press conference ahead of the game.
Despite the setbacks, the coach is convinced of a good response from the players chosen for the duel.
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