TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025; Angola coach Patrice Beaumelle “I prefer action to words”

Angola’s newly appointed national team coach, Patrice Beaumelle, brings with him a wealth of experience in African football. 

At 47, the Frenchman, a two-time TotalEnergies CAF AFCON winner with Zambia (2012) and Côte d’Ivoire (2015), returns to Luanda with the mission to rebuild the Palancas Negras and strengthen Angola’s football identity. In this exclusive interview with CAFOnline, Beaumelle shares his vision and belief of his team’s capabilities at the continental showpiece set to take place in Morocco between 21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026. 

The reigning COSAFA Cup champions are drawn in Group B against fellow Southern African neighbours South Africa and Mozambique, as well as record holders, Egypt. 

Patrice, congratulations on your appointment as Angola’s new head coach. With your previous AFCON experience, how do you view this new chapter with the Palancas Negras?
Thank you very much. This will be my eighth AFCON at 47 years old. I love this competition — it holds a special place in my heart.

I’ve been part of three AFCONs with Zambia, winning in 2012 and with Côte d’Ivoire, winning again in 2015; two with Morocco; and now, the next one with Angola.

For me, it’s not a completely new chapter — I was already here in 2010. It feels more like continuing a story that began 15 years ago. I know many people in the federation — President Alves Simões, Vice President Kali, Technical Director Zeca Amaral, and others at the Federation. I’m proud and happy to be back, and grateful to lead Angola into the next AFCON, hosted in Morocco — a country where I also spent almost five years.

Angola have qualified for another TotalEnergies CAF AFCON. From your perspective, what does this achievement represent for the country’s football development and ambitions?
I believe Angola has a great generation of players. At the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, the team performed very well, reaching the quarter-finals against Nigeria.

Angola is a sporting nation — basketball, handball, and football all hold great importance here. Qualifying for AFCON is never easy, but Angola should always be present because the country has enormous potential.

Our youth teams — U17, U19, U20 — are full of promise. We must nurture their development because they represent Angola’s future. This current team combines experience with hunger, and with humility and determination, they can achieve great things.

You’ve worked with some of Africa’s most talented teams. What kind of football identity do you want to build with Angola?

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with exceptional players. Whenever I arrive in a new country, I make it a point to understand its culture, history, and footballing DNA.

I want Angola to play as one — united, courageous, passionate, and motivated to represent the flag and the people. My goal is to build a team that fights for each other and embodies the spirit of the Palancas Negras.

Angola is known for producing technically gifted players. How will you channel that individual talent into a cohesive, disciplined team?

Yes, Angola has very talented players — but talent alone is not enough. If everyone plays for the team, we can achieve something special.
The team always comes first. I want the players to understand that “alone I go faster, but together we go further. “Everyone must give their best for the nation. No one is above the team — talent must serve the group.

Looking at Angola’s qualification campaign, what lessons will guide your TotalEnergies CAF AFCON preparation?

We will continue what works, build on our strengths, and address our weaknesses. We respect every opponent, but we fear no one. Our preparation will be based on hard work, humility, and determination.

After your experiences with Côte d’Ivoire and MC Alger, are there tactical principles you plan to bring to Angola?
I want my team to be difficult to play against — a team with personality, character, and resilience.

Angola has often entered major tournaments as underdogs. Do you embrace that label?

I actually like that idea. Let’s see what happens. I prefer actions to words — it’s better to prove ourselves on the pitch than to make predictions.
What I can say is that I love this team and I believe in what the players want to achieve.

How do you plan to balance short-term results with long-term football development?

The key is to get good results now in order to buy time for the future. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is uncertain — today is a gift, that’s why it’s called “the present.”
So, we’ll work day by day and trust in God’s plan.

Finally, what message would you like to share with Angolans as they rally behind the Palancas Negras?

My dream is to make the people of Angola proud — not just for a moment, but for generations to come.
Angola avante