Luanda – Angola’s Secretary of State for Sports, Teresa Ulundo, on Tuesday expressed her belief in the ability of the country’s National Football Team (Palancas Negras) to continue fighting for the 2026 World Cup in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking to the press, after the Angolan team drew 1-1 with Cameroon, at the 11 de Novembro Stadium, for the 4th round of the African qualifying zone, Teresa Ulundo stated that it was a difficult encounter, but that the players national teams demonstrated courage and determination.
“It was a high-pressure game in which both teams had the same objective. Our players, who were losing in the first half, were able to tie the game and continue thinking about victory. Therefore, there is still hope and we will continue to fight to achieve the objective,” she said.
An identical position was expressed by the governor of the province of Luanda, Manuel Homem, considering that the Palancas Negras came under a little pressure, but in the second half they had a different competitive behavior and controlled the game.
The president of the Angolan Football Federation (FAF), Artur Almeida e Silva, admitted that there was a lack of greater speed and ball control on the part of the country's team members, which could have had a more positive result.
The FAF leader explained that the presence of the President of the Republic at match venue brought great motivation to the National Team, which will continue to focus on achieving the country's goals.
The former and current honorary president of the FAF, Armando Machado, defended the need for better internal organization, so that positive results can emerge normally.
Regarding the challenge, the host started to lose, with a goal from the Cameroonians, in the 11th minute, scored by Bryan Mbeumo, having equalized, in the 54th minute, through an own goal by Ngadeu, following a shot by the Angolan Gelson Dala.
Angola will play again on March 16, 2025, against Libya, in Tripoli, for the 5th round of the competition, and then hosts Cape Verde, on the 23rd of the same month, for the following round.
In the Group D classification, the National Team occupies 4th place, with six points. Cameroon is the leader (8 pts), Libya, in second position (7 pts), the same as Cape Verde (7 pts), in third.
Mauritius is in 5th place (4 pts) and Eswatini is in 6th and last, without scoring. VAB/DOJ
