Africa-Press – Angola. According to the Angolan national coach, Patrice Beaumelle, Angola aims to start the 35th Edition of the African Cup of Nations, which began on Sunday (21) in Morocco, with a victory against South Africa, a match scheduled for Monday (22).
In a press conference in anticipation of the game against the Bafana Bafana (South Africa), the French coach stressed that a victory helps to eliminate the pressure that exists before a competition and facilitates the projection of the following games.
“It is always important to start the competition in a positive way. We will play against a team that is already qualified for the World Cup and has not suffered any defeat for 26 games, and that intends to win the African Cup,” he argued.
He said that Angola has a DNA capable of winning in the opening match and predicts that it will be a very interesting game.
For his part, the team’s captain, Fredy, added that the group faces the match with great optimism.
“We didn’t have much time to work, due to the initial date that our training camp was supposed to be,” which is why it was difficult to get the group together for a long time. “Our goal is to try to do more than what we did in the last Edition,” he said.
Fredy said that, despite there being favorite teams, Angola has its potential and can surprise.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Neblú (1o de Agosto), Hugo Marques (Petro de Luanda) and Dominique (Etoile Carouge, Switzerland)
Defenders: Eddie Afonso (Petro de Luanda), Clinton da Mata (Lyon, France), Núrio Fortuna (Volos FC, Greece), Tó Carneiro (AS FAR, Morocco), Jonathan Buatu (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Kialonda Gaspar (Lecce, Italy), David Carmo (Real Oviedo, Spain), Rui Modesto (Udinese, Italy) and Pedro Bondo (Famalicão, Portugal)
Midfielders: Fredy (Bodrumspor, Turkey), Maestro (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Show (Kocaelispor, Turkey), Manuel Keliano (A. Grozny, Turkey), Mário Balbúrdia (Boluspor, Turkey) and Beni Mukendi (Vitória SC, Portugal)
Forwards: Mabululu (Al-Ahly) Tripoli (Libya), Milson (Crvena Zvezda, Serbia), Chico Banza (Zamalek, Egypt), Gelson Dala (Al-Wakrah, Qatar), Manuel Benson (Swansea City, Wales), Ary Papel (Al Akhdar, Libya), and Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari, Italy).
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