CAN 2024: Angola, a little more than an outsider
Clear winner of Namibia in the round of 16 (3-0), Angola impresses in this Ivorian African Cup of Nations. The
Palancas Negras
play an attractive, offensive and efficient game. The Angolans, who will challenge Nigeria for a place in the last four, want to keep their feet on the ground without stopping themselves from dreaming.
Angolan Gelson Dala celebrates his second goal scored against Namibia on January 27, 2024 in Bouaké. AP - Themba Hadebe
By: Nicolas Bamba Follow
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From our special correspondent in Bouaké,
The first round of 16 of
CAN 2024
was not stingy with the spectacle. Angola and Namibia, who faced each other on Saturday January 27 at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, each delivered a lot of energy in a match which ultimately swung clearly in favor of the Portuguese speakers. The Angolans, first in their group ahead of Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Algeria,
logically won against the Brave Warriors
.
A performance that arouses “
a lot of pride
” in the group, explains Jonathan Buatu. The defender recalls that despite the final result (3-0), Angola had to remobilize after the expulsion of their goalkeeper Neblu after 17 minutes, while the score was still goalless: “
We showed a lot of character and we were able to react very quickly. We remained faithful to our principles despite the red card.
»
Read alsoCAN 2024: The calendar and all the results
The trust is there
“
We didn’t panic. We tightened the lines and we were more concentrated. It made the difference. What played a role was that we reacted very quickly, and in quick succession: we scored, they got a red card, we scored directly afterwards... I think that at that moment, it killed them a bit
,” continues the player who has just signed up with Gil Vicente in Portugal.
Angola has resolved its efficiency problems in Ivory Coast. While the selection continued to suffer poor performances without finding the net a few months ago, it has already scored nine goals in this competition, including four for Gelson Dala alone. “
Since we have been here, confidence has been very high
,” recognizes Jonathan Buatu.
History makers. 🇦🇴🤩#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/FHHMQ5c4sH
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 27, 2024
“We are not afraid of anyone”
So obviously, the question arises: has Angola, which won the first knockout match in its history in CAN, become a favorite? Buatu prefers to keep the same course: “
We are humble. We arrived here as outsiders, and today we find ourselves in the quarter-finals. We will continue with this way of thinking, telling ourselves that we will take it game by game.
»
“
Maybe we will wait a little longer
,” observes the former Valenciennes defender. But “
favorites, I wouldn’t say that, we’re not going to take ourselves for what we’re not
.” Dominique Signori, the goalkeeper who entered the game after Neblu's expulsion, is on the same line: “
We will approach this quarter-final with humility. We are going to face a big name from Africa.
»
“
The remaining eight teams will be candidates for the trophy. We will not be taken lightly
,” continues the doorman. Jonathan Buatu, for his part, recalls that, behind Angolan humility, the Palancas Negras are “
afraid of no one
”.
Nigeria, which beat Cameroon
and which will stand on the road to Angola on February 2 at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, knows what to expect.
Read alsoAngola-Namibia: relive the big victory of the Palancas Negras in the round of 16
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