MALABO - Angola tackle Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations today wanting to silence critics who claim they are a route-one team of "Hollywood actors".
The Black Antelopes came under fire from Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte after his team conceded soft goals to Mateus and Manucho and lost 2-1 at the Nuevo de Malabo Stadium last weekend.
Duarte did not enjoy the long-ball tactics of the Angolans, nor the time-wasting tactics.
"Angola are a good team with good footballers, but in the second half they did not play - they just thumped long balls straight to the strikers," said the Portuguese coach. "In that game we had one team that wanted to play and another that did not want to play," he added, referring to constant injury stoppages during the second half.
While Jose "Lito" Vidigal did not respond, a victory over Sudan and six points in Group B ahead of a final-round showdown with hot pool favourites Ivory Coast would be the perfect answer.
What the Angolans displayed against the Burkinabe was clinical finishing with powerful close-range shooting from Mateus and former Manchester United striker Manucho.
Like the other seven losers in the first series of group games, Sudan realise another loss would almost certainly end any chance of making the knockout phase in the biennial African football showcase.
A victory is certainly long overdue for the Jediane Falcons, whose previous triumph was in the 1970 final against Ghana when the Cup of Nations was a much lower-profile competition with only eight qualifiers.
Coach Mohamed Abdallah was 16 when Sudan lifted the Cup in Khartoum, but none of the current squad captained by midfielder Haitham Mostafa had been born.
Angolans can shush critics
MALABO - Angola tackle Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations today wanting to silence critics who claim they are a route-one team of "Hollywood actors".
The Black Antelopes came under fire from Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte after his team conceded soft goals to Mateus and Manucho and lost 2-1 at the Nuevo de Malabo Stadium last weekend.
Duarte did not enjoy the long-ball tactics of the Angolans, nor the time-wasting tactics.
"Angola are a good team with good footballers, but in the second half they did not play - they just thumped long balls straight to the strikers," said the Portuguese coach. "In that game we had one team that wanted to play and another that did not want to play," he added, referring to constant injury stoppages during the second half.
While Jose "Lito" Vidigal did not respond, a victory over Sudan and six points in Group B ahead of a final-round showdown with hot pool favourites Ivory Coast would be the perfect answer.
What the Angolans displayed against the Burkinabe was clinical finishing with powerful close-range shooting from Mateus and former Manchester United striker Manucho.
Like the other seven losers in the first series of group games, Sudan realise another loss would almost certainly end any chance of making the knockout phase in the biennial African football showcase.
A victory is certainly long overdue for the Jediane Falcons, whose previous triumph was in the 1970 final against Ghana when the Cup of Nations was a much lower-profile competition with only eight qualifiers.
Coach Mohamed Abdallah was 16 when Sudan lifted the Cup in Khartoum, but none of the current squad captained by midfielder Haitham Mostafa had been born.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos