Photo Credit: Federação Angolana de Futebol - FAF
Angola Sports Minister Luis Falcão has set the Palancas Negras the next target of qualifying for the World Cup finals after accomplishing the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) mission in style.
Angola Press Agency quoted Falcão setting the target while celebrating the Palancas Negras’ effortless qualification to the AFCON finals undefeated from Group F. Falcão identified three factors of merit-based players’ selection, consistency and determination as being behind the convincing performance of Pedro Gonçalves’ men.
It is the 10th time the team from the former Portuguese colony has qualified for the African finals and they should be hoping to better their quarterfinal stage finish in the last edition held in Ivory Coast.
“At the same time, we will direct our attention to the qualifying phase for the 2026 World Cup which resumes in March next year. Our ambition is clear as we also want to be present at the World Cup,” Falcão is quoted saying.
The Palancas Negras are fourth in Group D of the World Cup qualifiers, sitting two points and a point behind leaders Cameroon and second and third-placed Libya and Cape Verde. Mauritius occupy fifth place with four points and zero points for bottom-placed Eswatini.
Earlier, former Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques attributed the team’s successful showing in the qualifiers to the recall of big-name players and teamwork.
The Angolans’ last academic game ended goalless with Sudan on Monday to wrap up the race with 14 points, six points ahead of the Nile Crocodiles who also sailed through to the finals.
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