Gonçalves labels Angola underdogs ahead of CHAN kick off

Angola’s head coach Pedro Gonçalves has admitted they will be in the most competitive group the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament kicks off on August 2.

The Palancas Negras have been drawn in Group A alongside CHAN heavyweights Morocco and DR Congo, as well as co-hosts Kenya and regional rivals Zambia.

“We are clearly in the most competitive group. Looking at the five teams in the group, only two have won CHAN twice—Morocco and the DRC—and they are clearly the favorites to qualify,” he told CAFOnline.com.

“Then there’s the host nation, Kenya, which has made a significant investment. Zambia and ourselves will be seen as the “underdogs,” but I believe we will fight relentlessly for a place in the quarterfinals. We may not be the favorites, but we will certainly have something to say in that fight.”

On what Angola wants to achieve in WAFCON to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, he said: “Considering that in the last edition we finished second in a group of three and didn’t qualify—due to two draws in two matches—having the chance to play four games this time is already a great opportunity for this group of local players.

“We will fight for a place in the quarterfinals, which would be a fantastic goal to achieve given the strength of the teams in our group.”

Angola will kick off their campaign against Morocco at Nyayo Stadium on August 3.