TEAM PAGE

There will be undoubted pressure on host nation Angola as they enter the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, especially as recent form has been patchy under new coach Manuel Jose.

Angola’s qualification for the World Cup finals in 2006 proved one of the biggest shocks in recent African football history, but they have failed to build on that in recent times.

The achievement of 2006 came against the backdrop of a 30-year-old nation, mired in a brutal civil war until just a few years ago and still struggling with meagre infrastructure.

But the country’s football federation have long had a policy of seeking out talent with Angolan connections in the Diaspora in Europe, notably in former colonial power Portugal.

Several key players have emerged from outside of Angolan club structures to bolster the side, although ironically most from the obscurity of minor clubs.

They achieved their best-ever result in the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana, where they reached the quarterfinals before losing out to eventual winners Egypt.

This will be their third tournament finals in a row and their best chance at success.
Nations Cup Record:

1982: Did not qualify
1984: Did not qualify
1986: Did not enter
1988: Did not qualify
1990: Did not qualify
1992: Did not qualify
1994: Did not qualify
1996: Qualified for the finals, did not progress past the first round
1998: Qualified for the finals, did not progress past the first round
2000: Did not qualify
2002: Did not qualify
2004: Did not qualify
2006: Qualified for the finals, did not progress past the first round
2008: Quarter-finalists
Record:

Finals tournament:

P W D L F A
13 2 6 5 18-23

GALLERY

LATEST FIXTURES & RESULTS

STATISTICS