The Angola national team coach Pedro Goncalves is determined to cause an upset when they lock horns with Ghana’s Black Stars on Thursday at the Baba Yara Stadium.
The Palancas Negras are returning to face the former African champions in their opening game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after succumbing to a narrow win last year. In March 2023, when former coach Chris Hughton took charge of his first game, Antoine Semenyo climbed off the bench to punish the away side in front of a packed Baba Yara Stadium boosting Ghana’s chancing of qualifying for the 2023 AFCON.
Goncalves admits that the fans in Kumasi were intimidating and created a supportive atmosphere for the Black Stars.
“One year and [a] half, we felt the atmosphere of Kumasi, the stadium, the crowd was lovely, I think Kumasi is the passion side of African football,” he told the media on Wednesday.
“The last time was tough for us because we lost in the last play of the game on a set piece, a lot of lucky for Ghana to finish on goal.
Angola coach Pedro Goncalves speaks on team Ghana’s threat ahead of the game tomorrow #3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/rzOkGyoIha
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) September 4, 2024
“Tomorrow [Thursday] is a different story and moment, I think both national teams are better now, we grow a lot, by the moment we feel we have confidence not just for tomorrow but for the future,” he added.
The game will come off at 4:00 pm local time as both teams aim for the first maximum points to set the tone in their quest for a place in the next showpiece.
Angola are seeking a 10th appearance at the AFCON while Ghana aims for its 25th.
The post AFCON 2025 qualifiers: Angola coach Pedro Goncalves vows to stop Ghana in Kumasi first appeared on 3News.
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