TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024: Team Profile: Know your team: Angola

Fact File

Nickname: The Sable Antelopes

Total Appearances: Four (2011, 2016, 2018, 2022)

Last Appearance: Algeria 2022

Titles: 0

FIFA Ranking: 85

The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 will see Angola making their fifth appearance from the seven in total that have been played since 2009.

After missing out on the first edition in 2009, the Sable Antelopes made their debut two years later at the Sudan finals where they put up a strong performance that saw them finish fourth after being edged by the hosts in the third-place play-off.

Under the guidance of coach Pedro Gonçalves, Angola are amongst the strongest teams from the Southern African region and will be looking at going all the way in their fifth attempt.

How they qualified:

Angola had a tricky opponent in Lesotho who have been on an impressive rise of form of late.

The Sable Antelopes advanced to the finals after overcoming Lesotho over two legs to secure their fifth TotalEnergies CAF CHAN appearance. 

Know the coach:  Pedro Gonçalves

Angola will be under the tutelage of Pedro Gonçalves, a man who has grown in leaps and bounds over the years with Angolan national team.

Upon his 2018 arrival, Gonçalves was appointed the Angola U-17 national team coach where he hit the ground running with a COSAFA Cup U-17 gold medal which was followed by a third-place finish at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON, as well as guiding his side to their first ever FIFA U-17 World Cup, where their journey ended in the Round of 16.

The 48-year-old caused a number of upsets in Cote d’Ivoire where he  guided the Angola to an impressive Quarter-Final finish at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Past CHAN performances

In their four previous appearances, Angola’s best run came in their debut at the Sudan finals where they finished fourth behind the hosts.

After missing out on the 2016 edition in Rwanda, they finished fourth at the 2018 finals in Morocco before their comeback in Algeria 2022 where they could not advance from the group stages.

What to expect:

Angola’s recent COSAFA Cup triumph marked their fourth regional title and was dominated mostly by players plying their trade in Angola. They will be looking at continuing their fine form at the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN finals next month.

Fan Zone

Did you know: Angola is the second best performing Southern African nation at the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN finals after Madagascar who recently finished third at the Algeria edition.

Angola finished fourth in their debut appearance in 2011 at the Sudan finals.