Seven-year project: Gonçalves eyes big payoff for Angola at CHAN PAMOJA 2024

After more than seven years shaping Angola’s national teams from the ground up, Pedro Gonçalves believes the time is now for his long-term project to deliver at the top level — starting with the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.

The Portuguese tactician, who has overseen various Angolan sides including the senior national team and youth setups, is leading the Palancas Negras into what he hopes will be a defining campaign on the continental stage.

“This is their opportunity to replicate what we did close to four decades ago,” he said.

“I believe the team currently in place is quite able to do this. But the biggest secret is in how you start. If they start on a positive note, it will give them some momentum into the rest of the tournament. I remember for us, we started off with a big win against Tunisia and that just gave us huge confidence.”

Gonçalves’ focus is firmly on ensuring Angola emerges as one of the tournament’s standout teams, despite being drawn in what many have dubbed the “Group of Death” alongside Morocco, DR Congo, hosts Kenya, and Zambia.

Their opening match will be played on August 3 at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

“We are under no illusions about the difficulty,” Gonçalves told CAFOnline.com.

“But our ambition is to compete fiercely, surprise our opponents, and advance beyond the group stage.”

The coach’s preparation strategy has been methodical. He began working with a broad group of players in Luanda before trimming the squad to 23 and relocating to Johannesburg for a second phase of training.

“Our preparation for this CHAN began on July 17 and has been divided into two phases,” he explained.

“The main focus has been on building collective cohesion and helping the players regain their peak physical condition.”

One of Gonçalves’ core strengths has been his emphasis on consistency and continuity.

Ten players in the current squad were part of Angola’s recent COSAFA Cup-winning team—a tournament the coach used not only to defend the regional title but also to prepare for World Cup qualifiers and CHAN itself.

“Continuity is a key aspect of our work,” he said.

“Integrating these players ensures consistency in our approach and builds on the progress made during previous camps.”

However, Gonçalves’ preparation has not been without challenges. The timing of the CHAN — during a league break and overlapping with the international transfer window — has complicated squad stability.

“We’ve already lost players who moved abroad, which forces us to continuously adapt our team structure,” he admitted.

“While this is beneficial for the players’ careers and the long-term depth of our national team, it significantly impacts our immediate performance.”

Injuries have also struck. Forward Anderson Cruz will miss at least two weeks due to a muscle injury, a setback Gonçalves acknowledges but is determined to manage.

“Each match will be an opportunity to demonstrate our determination,” he added.

As one of the few coaches in African football with deep institutional knowledge of his national teams, Gonçalves’ longevity gives Angola an edge—particularly in building a culture of tactical identity and squad unity.

With Morocco coming in as back-to-back champions, DR Congo as two-time winners, Zambia's pedigree, and Kenya's home support, Angola will need every bit of that foundation to survive Group A.

But Gonçalves remains calm and confident.

“The consistency and experience we’ve gained in recent editions of CHAN and AFCON are assets we’ll rely on. We have players who participated in the last tournaments and can serve as a reference point for the younger players,” he said.

His final message is clear: Angola isn’t just here to make up the numbers.

“We’ve arrived to make a big impact,” Gonçalves declared. “Our mission is to turn years of work into results on the pitch.”

The TotalEnergies CAF CHAN PAMOJA 2024 kicks off on Saturday, 2 August, and runs through 30 August, with matches hosted across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.