Afcon 2023: Beating Super Eagles is a herculean task– Angola coach

Angola coach Pedro Goncalves has said his team will be up against a powerful Super Eagles side in the Quarter-finals of the Afcon 2023 on Friday.

The Palancas Negras will be seeking a first-ever semi-final appearance at the Afcon.

They have only made two quarter-final appearances, in 2008 AFCON in Ghana and in 2010 which they hosted.

For that to be achieved, they must overcome three-time Afcon winners Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

This is the first time both teams will meet at the Afcon tournament.

Both teams go into Friday’s encounter on the back of three consecutive wins.

While Angola finished top of Group D on seven points, Jose Peseiro’s men were second in Group A also on seven points.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference Goncalves, however, said despite his side facing a powerhouse in African football, they will use the game to show how far they have progressed.

“We will be playing a powerful team, but we foresee this meeting as an opportunity to show our worth and that we have been progressing.

“We respect Nigeria a lot, and they are a powerful team with players in the Premier League and other top leagues. They have found the best formation in a tournament as the Afcon”

On the kind of mindset his team will carry into the game, he added: ”We are not afraid of any of the teams. We’ve experienced a couple of situations, but they did not stop us from meeting our target. As I said earlier, tomorrow is an opportunity.”

The winner between the Super Eagles and Angola will face the winner of the other quarter-final between Cape Verde and South Africa.