Angola national team coach Pedro Goncalves has blasted Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro for his comment ahead of the AFCON 2023 quarterfinal clash involving both countries.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will take on the Palancas Negras of Angola on Friday evening at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
Speaking ahead of the match, Jose Peseiro described Angola as “a good team but not a big name in Africa.”
Peseiro’s message was transmitted to Goncalves wrongly at the pre-match press conference, where the Angola coach fired back at his fellow Portuguese.
"He is making use of communication the way he wants. Nigeria might even be more fragile than we have been,” he countered.
“We are going to focus on our strengths. We don't have any dispute with our opponents, and this is the image we want to convey."
Goncalves also said the Angola coaches have studied the strengths and weaknesses of the Super Eagles that they would be exploiting.
“I guess they found the best strategy and the best formation to be competitive in AFCON. Perhaps at the start of the tournament, they began to play in 4-3-3.
“Then in the second match and further in 3-4-3. Three Central-backs, very solid. The wingers, with physiologic capacity, go back and front and back: Aina and Zaidu. I know Zaidu because he is playing in our local club in Portugal.
“So, the midfielder guys, are very strong; and the front, the central with Osimhen, Moses, Lookman.
“Yeah, they are a powerful team, but they also have some issues that we are looking at to create difficulty for them. So, we will see, but this is a big opportunity for us. An opportunity of a lifetime.”
Goncalves has worked in Angola since 2018, first with the Under-17 national team before moving to the Under-20 and now the senior national team.
He’s banking on the Palancas Negras drawing from the strength of 37 million Angolans to reach their first-ever AFCON semifinal.
"We have a lot of pride in achieving this level, but this pride creates responsibility, and the blessing is much more. The motivation for that is for tomorrow (Friday).
“All the power and all the thoughts will be on the pitch. All the strength of millions and millions of Anglans will be in the pitch,” the Portuguese affirmed.
