Can Angola establish itself permanently at the highest level? After its great run to the quarter-finals at CAN 2023, the South West African nation can dream big this winter in Morocco. As they prepare to participate for the 11th time in their history in the continental tournament, the Palancas Negras, named after a rare subspecies of antelope, experienced a controlled qualifier, finishing at the top of their group ahead of Sudan, Niger and Ghana.
Placed in the same group as South Africa, Egypt and Zimbabwe, the Angolans will still have a hard time starting out, having never made it past the quarter-final stage at the CAN (2008, 2010 and therefore 2023).
To do this, they will be able to rely on the experience of their French coach, Patrice Beaumelle. Assistant to Hervé Renard during the coronations of Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, the 47-year-old technician was appointed in September and has already been able to establish himself during a prestigious friendly match lost to Argentina on November 14 (0-2).
Angola calendar
The list of selected players
Guardians: Nebú (Agost/NGOG), Hugo Marques (Proce/NG, Antony Ladder (Étonile Carout/SUI).
Defenders : Rui Modesto (Udinese/ITA), Eddie Afonso (Petro Luanda/ANG), Tô Carneiro (AS FAR Rabat/MAR), Núrio Fortuna (Volos NPS/GRE), Pedro Bondo (Famalicão/POR), David Carmo (Real Oviedo/ESP), Jonathan Buatu (Gil Vicente/POR), Kialonda Gaspar (Lecce/ITA), Clinton Mata (Olympique Lyonnais/FRA).
Environments: Beni Mukindi (Cocaelismspels), Maestro, Manuel Kelian, Manuel (Grozny Broken), Balburdia Mário.
Attackers: It is, Manuel Beens (Swan City/GAL), Milson. Vallecano/ESPP), Ary Pape), Ary-Akhdar SC/LIB), Blood (Ahli Tripoli SC/LB),
Player to watch: Clinton Mata
His departure for the CAN will do a lot of harm to the supporters of Olympique Lyonnais. A central element of the Gones defense since his arrival in the summer of 2023, Clinton Mata first stood out as a right-back before successfully refocusing as a central hinge, his speed qualities fitting perfectly into Paulo Fonseca’s scheme.
Born in Belgium, in Verviers, the former Club Bruges player quickly chose to defend the colors of Angola to follow in the footsteps of his father Guy, former goalkeeper of Black Levers. After honoring his first cap in September 2014, while playing for Charleroi, Mata experienced a long journey through the desert in the selection, no longer being called up between June 2016 and June 2024.
But his rise in power with OL allowed him to make his return to the flag and establish himself as a leader of the Angolan rearguard, of which he occupies the right flank. With David Carmo, the central defender of Real Oviedo, they will be Patrice Beaumelle’s two main stabilizers.
Worth a look
