Angola’s recent COSAFA Cup crowning is a result of years of dedication and hard work according to coach Pedro Gonçalves.
The 48-year-old, who guided the Angola to an impressive Quarter-Final finish at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire continued from where he left off with a clinical display at the COSAFA Cup held in South Africa, that was capped with a historic 5-0 win over Namibia in the finals.
The historic win over the Brave Warriors meant the Sable Antelopes were crowned Southern African champions for the fourth time, three titles short of Zambia’s record of seven.
Speaking after the final in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), which was attended by CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, Gonçalves credited the success to the groundwork done with some of the players he coached at U-17 level.
“This journey started in 2018 with the U-17 (national team). Some of the players and I are still here, and some are in another stage of their careers. These players believe and work hard to accomplish the plan we set. It is unusual to get a score like that in the final but today, it was a day of goals, and everything happened so well,” said the coach.
Upon his 2018 arrival, Gonçalves was appointed the Angola U-17 national team coach where he hit the ground running with a COSAFA Cup U-17 gold medal which was followed by a third-place finish at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON, as well as guiding his side to their first ever FIFA U-17 World Cup, where their journey ended in the Round of 16.
Crediting his opponent, the coach said Namibia had a strong team and praised coach Collin Benjamin for the work he has done with the Namibian national team.
“Namibia have a strong team and worked hard to reach the final and I believe it was the best teams to reach the final. Credit to my colleague who is doing a great job in Namibia. I believe there is so much good happening there” he said.
Meanwhile, Angola were drawn in Group F of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers, where they will be hoping to finish as one of the top two teams to advance to the finals of the tournament.
Their Group F opponents are Ghana, Sudan and Niger.
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be held from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 in Morocco.