Portuguese coach Pedro Gonçalves, head coach of the Angola national team, has acknowledged the difficulty of the Black Antelopes' group in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Angola is placed in Group B alongside Egypt, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
In exclusive remarks to "al qahera news" Gonçalves said: "If we take a quick look at the draw, we will see that Angola has landed in Group B with Egypt, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. I believe this group will feature highly competitive matches, as all teams are of great value."
He continued: "First, Egypt is the top-ranked team and the most successful in Africa, making them a clear mark of quality. It is evident that Egypt possesses some of the best players in the world, and they will undoubtedly be very tough opponents for us. However, I believe the experience we recently gained against Egypt will help us prepare better for our encounter with them."
He added: "South Africa will be our opening match in the tournament, a regional derby against a very competitive opponent. They recently finished third in the last AFCON and have a high-quality squad, with a structural core from Mamelodi Sundowns. Additionally, Zimbabwe, returning to competition, has a squad with many players participating in the South African league."
He went on to say: "Therefore, I expect these to be highly competitive matches that will demand our best performance. We have 11 months to prepare for this tournament. However, in the meantime, we have other objectives to achieve in Angola, particularly qualifying for the World Cup."
He concluded: "We still have the final selection phase for players from the domestic league and internal competitions. We also have the COSAFA Cup, and all these competitions significantly contribute to defining our competitive level when we reach the next World Cup at the end of 2025. Based on our sporting growth and the athletic capabilities we have demonstrated over the years, I expect us to be increasingly ready."
"Of course, we will face opponents of a very high quality, but in Angola, we will approach the matches with great ambition and strong determination. Naturally, we aim to surpass the group stage, reach the knockout rounds, and deliver better performances to elevate our level further. Our ambition is clear—to reach the pinnacle of African football."