Latest news with #PedroGonçalves
CAF
3 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024: Angola team profile
Fact File Nickname : The Sable Antelopes Total Appearances: Four (2011, 2016, 2018, 2022) Last Appearance: Algeria 2022 Titles : 0 FIFA Ranking: 85 The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 will see Angola making their fifth appearance from the seven in total that have been played since 2009. After missing out on the first edition in 2009, the Sable Antelopes made their debut two years later at the Sudan finals where they put up a strong performance that saw them finish fourth after being edged by the hosts in the third-place play-off. Under the guidance of coach Pedro Gonçalves, Angola are amongst the strongest teams from the Southern African region and will be looking at going all the way in their fifth attempt. How they qualified: Angola had a tricky opponent in Lesotho who have been on an impressive rise of form of late. The Sable Antelopes advanced to the finals after overcoming Lesotho over two legs to secure their fifth TotalEnergies CAF CHAN appearance. Know the coach: Pedro Gonçalves Angola will be under the tutelage of Pedro Gonçalves, a man who has grown in leaps and bounds over the years with Angolan national team. 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. The 48-year-old caused a number of upsets in Cote d'Ivoire where he guided the Angola to an impressive Quarter-Final finish at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Past CHAN performances In their four previous appearances, Angola's best run came in their debut at the Sudan finals where they finished fourth behind the hosts. After missing out on the 2016 edition in Rwanda, they finished fourth at the 2018 finals in Morocco before their comeback in Algeria 2022 where they could not advance from the group stages. What to expect: Angola's recent COSAFA Cup triumph marked their fourth regional title and was dominated mostly by players plying their trade in Angola. They will be looking at continuing their fine form at the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN finals next month. Fan Zone Did you know: Angola is the second best performing Southern African nation at the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN finals after Madagascar who recently finished third at the Algeria edition. Angola finished fourth in their debut appearance in 2011 at the Sudan finals.
CAF
4 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Six days to go: Angola boss Gonçalves hails CAF for championing homegrown talent with CHAN
As the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 edges closer, Angola's head coach Pedro Gonçalves is leading his team with quiet confidence and deep reflection of his six years in charge of the Palancas Negras. Celebrating six years at the helm of the Palancas Negras, the Portuguese tactician believes Angola is primed to showcase its local talent despite facing challenges of player availability and group-stage pressure. In this exclusive interview with Gonçalves delves into Angola's CHAN qualification journey, the transformative power of the competition for local players, and his optimism about the future of football in the COSAFA region. He also acknowledges the difficult task ahead in a group that includes CHAN heavyweights Morocco and DR Congo, as well as co-hosts Kenya and regional rivals Zambia. With a mix of pragmatism and belief, Gonçalves sees CHAN not just as a tournament but as a platform for growth and recognition for African-based players. Here is the full Q&A: Q: Coach, you are preparing for yet another TotalEnergies CAF CHAN tournament. What are your views on the current state of the team? I have the privilege of celebrating six years as Angola's national team coach. The journey has been long and enjoyable. Our progress since 2019 has been substantial, and this will be the second consecutive CHAN that I am proud to have qualified Angola for. As a result of our development in recent years, Angola has become a goldmine for world football, and many of our most prominent players are now playing abroad, which means they won't be available for this competition. Nevertheless, I have always emphasized—and continue to stress to the players—the great importance of CHAN, as it serves both as a window of opportunity for local players and as a barometer for the entire internal football structure. Q: What do you make of the team's performance in the qualifiers? The fact that in 2024 we were the national team with the biggest rise in the FIFA rankings worldwide allowed us to skip the first qualifying round. On one hand, that was a good thing, but on the other, it meant we had less time to work and develop directly with the locally based players. We ended up playing the qualifier against Lesotho, which is always a very competitive opponent. I believe we were rightful winners of the tie, which was practically decided in the first leg with our 2-goal away victory. In the second leg at home, we were able to manage the squad and give other players the chance to compete. Despite losing that match due to an entirely unnecessary penalty, we always controlled the tie and were never in danger of missing qualification. Q: What makes this TotalEnergies CAF CHAN tournament important for Angolan Football? CHAN is of vital importance in boosting local talent. The vast majority of African national teams play mostly (or even entirely) with players who are based outside their countries. I think CAF brilliantly created a very interesting and attractive competitive space that opens the door for locally based players who aspire to reach higher sporting levels. CHAN provides visibility for local talent. Q: What have you made of the growth and competitiveness of African football? In recent seasons, CAF has implemented a series of initiatives that have increasingly raised the quality and visibility of African competitions. Africa holds the future talent of global football, and as such, interest from the global football world is growing. This is evident in the attention given to African competitions—not only from outside the continent but also from within, as there is growing enthusiasm and appreciation for what is being produced in African football. Q: Looking at your group, what do you make of your opponents and your chances of going to the KO stages? We are clearly in the most competitive group. 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. We may not be the favorites, but we will certainly have something to say in that fight. Q: What goals are you looking to set for your team in this competition? 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. We will fight for a place in the quarterfinals, which would be a fantastic goal to achieve given the strength of the teams in our group. Q: No Southern African nation has lifted the title. What do you make of this statistic and the chances of Southern African nations at the tournament? The progress of the COSAFA region has been gradual and significant. If we consider that seven of the teams in the upcoming AFCON are from the COSAFA region, that's already a sign of growth. However, we must now aim for the next level, which is winning titles in Africa. South Africa and Zambia have already done so in the AFCON. Let's see which team from our region will be the first to do it in CHAN. The talent is there, and with time, the allocation of more resources, and improvements in the development process, I believe it will become a reality.
Sharjah 24
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
Sporting crowned Portuguese league champions
Sporting and Benfica were level on points heading into the decisive round, following a 1-1 draw in last week's derby, leaving the title up for grabs until the very end. Benfica needed a better result than Sporting to claim the title but were held to a 1-1 draw by Braga. Even a Benfica win would not have been enough due to Sporting's advantage in head-to-head results. Pedro Gonçalves opened the scoring in the second half (55'), before Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres — the league's top scorer — sealed the victory with his 39th goal of an extraordinary season (82'), confirming the title for Sporting. Current Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim had led Sporting to last season's title. After his departure in November, João Pereira briefly took over for six weeks before Rúben Borges assumed managerial duties. This triumph marks Sporting's 21st league title. They now have a shot at completing a domestic double when they face Benfica again next Sunday in the Portuguese Cup final.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Sporting crowned champions of Portugal after Vitória win
Sporting CP have done it again! Ruben Amorim's departure last November could have been the downfall of the club this season, but they have not wavered and are now champions of Portugal for the second season running. Advertisement Rui Borges' side secured a 2-0 victory on Saturday evening against Vitória SC, with Pedro Gonçalves and Viktor Gyökeres among the goals. The victory ensured they finished two points clear of title rivals Benfica, who they face in the Taça de Portugal final next weekend. 📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA - AFP or licensors
