CHAN: Angolan star Gilberto reacts to tough draw with Kenya

Orlando Pirates’ Angolan winger Gilberto has reacted to his national football team’s one-all draw with hosts Kenya in Thursday’s 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) match.

The winger, who is on loan at childhood club Petro de Luanda, hence eligible to feature for Angola at the tournament, showed why Pirates signed him last year.

Gilberto displayed a commanding performance for Angola and was deservedly named man-of-the match at the Nyayo International Stadium in Nairobi.

The Petro de Luanda attacker admitted that Kenya put up a solid defensive performance which made it difficult to break them down.

“I am really happy to have won the trophy, but this is not my sole effort — it is a contribution from all my teammates that resulted in this. The credit is for them,” he told CAF media.

“The atmosphere was very tough, as you know Kenya was playing at home. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the match, but we will keep working so that we can win the next one,” the Angolan midfielder explained.

“It was a very tough match because both teams are very good. We did our best to win, but unfortunately, we didn’t. As I said before, we will go back and work harder to win our next game.”

The Harambee Stars played with 10 men for the better part of the Group A game after Marvin Nabwire was sent off in the 21st minute.

Angola have one point going into their next assignment against the Democratic Republic of the Congo while Kenya took their tally to four points to keep quarterfinal qualification hopes alive.