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.
Angolas 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 countrys 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
Timothy Danladi of Nigeria is challenged by Vladimir Etson Va of Angola during the CHAN Quarterfinal match between Nigeria and Angola on 28 January 2018 at Grand Stade de Tanger, Tanger, Morocco Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Timothy Danladi of Nigeria is challenged by Vladimir Etson Va of Angola during the CHAN Quarterfinal match between Nigeria and Angola on 28 January 2018 at Grand Stade de Tanger, Tanger, Morocco Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Emeka Francis Atuloma of Nigeria challenges Vladimir Etson Va of Angola during the ACHAN Quarterfinal match between Nigeria and Angola on 28 January 2018 at Grand Stade de Tanger, Tanger, Morocco Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Sunday Adeyemi Faleye of Nigeria is challenged by Vladimir Etson Va of Angola during the ACHAN Quarterfinal match between Nigeria and Angola on 28 January 2018 at Grand Stade de Tanger, Tanger, Morocco Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Anthony Okpotu of Nigeria dribbles past Landu Mavanga of Angola during the ACHAN Quarterfinal match between Nigeria and Angola on 28 January 2018 at Grand Stade de Tanger, Tanger, Morocco Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Emeka Francis Atuloma of Nigeria challenges Vladimir Etson Va of Angola during the ACHAN Quarterfinal match between Nigeria and Angola on 28 January 2018 at Grand Stade de Tanger, Tanger, Morocco Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Chukwudiebube Emeka Ogbugh of Nigeria is challenged by Wilson Pinto Gaspar of Angola during the ACHAN Quarterfinal match between Nigeria and Angola on 28 January 2018 at Grand Stade de Tanger, Tanger, Morocco Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Braulio Adelio Nary of Angola wins the aerial battle with Junior Amour Ngouala of Congo during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Estevao Manuel Quitocota De Paizo of Angola is challenged by Junior Makiesse Mouzita of Congo during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Junior Amour Ngouala of Congo is challenged by Ricardo Job Estevaov of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Cesair Dorlich Sydney Gandze of Congo and Antonio Quibeto Manguxi of Angola battle for possession during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Georges Kader Bidimbou of Congo takes on Antonio Quibeto Manguxi of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Julfin Ondongo of Congo is challenged by Afonso Sebastiao Cabungula Fofo of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Estevao Manuel Quitocota De Paizo (left) and Antonio Sapalo Paty of Angola combine to tackle Junior Makiesse Mouzita of Congo during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Estevao Manuel Quitocota De Paizo of Angola is challenged by Junior Makiesse Mouzita of Congo during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Braulio Adelio Nary of Angola turns away from Junior Amour Ngouala of Congo during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Junior Makiesse Mouzita of Congo is challenged by Antonio Quibeto Manguxi of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Congo and Angola at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 24 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Vladimir Etson Va of Angola receives his Man of the Match award after the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Vladimir Etson Va of Angola receives his Man of the Match award after the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Herenilson Do Carmo of Angola is challenged by Willy Namedji of Cameroon during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Bertrand Owundi of Cameroon is challenged by Ricardo Job Estevaov of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Ricardo Job Estevaov of Angola is fouled by Bertrand Owundi of Cameroon during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Frantz Pangop of Cameroon is challenged by Antonio Sapalo Paty of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Thomas Bawak Etta of Cameroon is tackled by Herenilson Do Carmo of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Augusto Carneiro To of Angola in possession as he is challenged by Frantz Pangop of Cameroon during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Antonio Sapalo Paty of Angola is challenged by Clarence Bitang of Cameroon during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Thomas Bawak Etta of Cameroon is challenged by Ricardo Job Estevaov of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Cameroon at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 20 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Vladimir Etson Va of Angola receives his Man of the Match award after the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Burkina Faso at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 16 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Vladimir Etson Va of Angola receives his Man of the Match award after the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Burkina Faso at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 16 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Calesso Ginga Luis Mano of Angola is challenged by Gurtende Arnaud Bande of Burkina Faso during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Burkina Faso at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 16 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Valentin Nouma of Burkina Faso gets to the ball ahead of Vladimir Etson Va of Angola during the 2018 Chan game between Angola and Burkina Faso at Le Grand Stade Agadir in Agadir, Morocco on 16 January 2018 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
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