Luanda – The president of FIBA-Africa, Aníbal Manave, recognized the importance of the former captain of the Angolan National Team, Ângelo Vitoriano, who died on Saturday, in Luanda, due to illness.
The official, who was speaking during the official presentation ceremony of the African Senior Men's Basketball Championship ''Afrobasket'2025'', which Angola will host, recognized that Ângelo Victoriano's achievements do not fit in Angola or the African continent, but they reach the world.
Of Mozambican nationality, Aníbal Manave addressed, on behalf of FIBA, 'deep condolences' to the family of the former athlete, and said that Angola lost a great basketball man, who could continue to pass on his experience to the new generation, in this sport.
Ângelo Victoriano, remember, was distinguished in August 2023 by FIBA World for the achievements achieved with the National Team in different international competitions.
He became the second Angolan to deserve this 'FIBA Hall of Fame' distinction, after Jean-Jacques da Conceição, former center forward, also from 1º de Agosto, in 2013.
He was also the only African basketball player to win eight FIBA African championships, surpassing Jean Jacques da Conceição and Carlos Almeida, both with seven titles each.
Ângelo Monteiro dos Santos Victoriano, older brother of former basketball players Edmar Victoriano (Baduna) and Puna Victoriano, was born in Bairro Marçal, in Luanda, on February 8, 1968.
He began his sporting career in 1982, at the age of 14. He transferred to Petro de Luanda at 16, having been called up to the junior National Team for the African Cup of Nations held in Maputo (Mozambique).
During his career, the former winger won four national champion titles with the “tricolores”, six with the “militaries” of Rio Seco, one with Atlético Sport Aviação (ASA) and the same number with Queluz de Portugal.
With the 1.º de Agosto team he also won three trophies from African clubs, while with the National Senior Team he won eight African titles (1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005).
He made his debut at the World Cup in Argentina in 1990, followed by appearances in editions held in Canada (1994) and the United States of America (1998).
Ângelo Victoriano also competed in the Olympic Games in Barcelona (Spain) in 1992, Atlanta (USA) in 1996, Sydney (Australia) in 2000 and Athens in Greece in 2004.
In 2009 he reached the career of assistant coach in the formation of Clube Desportivo 1º de Agosto. BSV/FN/DOJ
