Aliou Cisse to convince “dual-national” for Angola

Head coach of Angola national team Aliou Cissé will begin a tour in Europe with the aim of convincing dual-nationals to play for the senior side.

The former Senegal player and coach signed to take up the Palancas Negras job after leaving his role at Libya this year.

He is expected to turn around of the fortunes of Angola who have struggled to make an impact on the continent.

One of the main targets on the books of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winning coach is 17-year-old Cardoso Varela.

Varela was born in Luanda, Angola

Born in Luanda Angola, Varela currently plays for Dinamo Zagreb where he is showcasing his talent in the Croatia top flight with 12 appearances this season.

Varela acquired Portuguese citizenship in July 2022 and he went on to represent the European nation at the U-15 and the U-17 levels.

The winger was the youngest member of Portugal U17 team that were runner-ups of the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Cyprus.

Angola exited 2025 AFCON at group stage

Angola have made 10 Africa Cup of Nations appearances with their best results being quarter final place finishes at the 2008, 2010 and the 2023 editions.

They exited the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the group stage, finishing with two points from three matches.

Aliou Cisse, who guided the Teranga Lions to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations glory in Cameroon, is tasked with shaping the side into powerful force in African football.