Angola national team head coach Pedro Gonçalves has described both his side and Zambia as underdogs in a highly competitive Group A at the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled to take place in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from August 3 to 30.
Gonçalves has acknowledged the strength of Group A, which features two-time CHAN champions Morocco and DR Congo, along with co-hosts Kenya.
“We are clearly in the most competitive group,” Gonçalves said in an interview with CAF media. “Looking at the five teams in the group, only two have won CHAN twice—Morocco and the DRC—and they are clearly the favorites to qualify. Then there’s the host nation, Kenya, which has made a significant investment. Zambia and ourselves will be seen as the underdogs, but I believe we will fight relentlessly for a place in the quarterfinals.”
Despite the stiff competition, Gonçalves remains hopeful that the COSAFA champions can progress beyond the group stage, something they failed to achieve in the last edition.
“Considering that in the last edition we finished second in a group of three and didn’t qualify—due to two draws in two matches—having the chance to play four games this time is already a great opportunity for this group of local players,” he added.
The Portuguese tactician is confident that both Angola and Zambia possess the quality to challenge for a top-two finish and reach the quarterfinals.
The CHAN tournament is exclusively for players plying their trade in their respective domestic leagues.
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