World Cup (Q): Angola’s new coach recalls ex-Cape Town City keeper Marques

𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲’s appointment as the Angola national team’s new coach has opened the door for the return of two key players.

 

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Under the reign of the Frenchman’s predecessor Pedro Gonçalves, some key players were sidelined. There were reports of the Portuguese coach falling out with some stars for the Palancas Negras.

Now with 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 placed in charge on Monday, he has recalled veteran goalkeeper Hugo Marques for the forthcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Petro de Luanda FC’s shot stopper had not featured for the Palancas Negras for some years.

What happened for Marques to be sidelined from Angola’s squad?

Earlier when Gonçalves was at the helm, Marques told Pan-Africa Football that he took a brief break from the national team assignments last year after his club’s supporter stormed the pitch. The fan wanted to beat the keeper over his previous performance for Petro de Luanda. However, the former Cape Town City man insisted that he was now available.

“One year ago, a supporter came onto the pitch and tried to punch me. The following week when we played against Ghana, the coach put me on the bench but I told him I was ok. He said the reason was the supporter—one thing with the club and the other with the national team. I [then] told the coach that I needed time to reflect on my time in the national team,” he explained.

Marques said while he excused himself from the national team assignments, he expressed his wish to return after explaining to Gonçalves why he had taken time off.

“I needed time to reflect on my time in the national team. After some time, I told the coach that I was ok now and he said ok thank you for opening up to come back again but [still] he doesn’t me. I am sorry coach that time I did that because I was lovely. I didn’t have protection. The only protection was to play and show that I was ok. [But] maybe he didn’t like that,” he said.

Marques is not the only player who is back in Angola squad following the sacking of Pedro Gonçalves.

Winger Ary Papel has also been recalled after being sidelined for two years owing to alleged personal differences with Gonçalves.

Angola return to action early next month for academic 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. The Angolans are out of the qualification race for Africa after suffering a home 0-1 loss to Libya weeks ago.

Angola will face Eswatini away on October 8 then host Cameroon five days later in a Group C match of the World Cup qualifiers.

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