Angola still hungers for more in ACN

• Hosts Angola steel themselves for tougher challenge as quarter-final stage draws close

Angola coach Manuel Jose on Monday night said he had fulfilled his undertaking to the people after the Palanca Negras (Black Antelopes) qualified for the quarter-finals following a barren draw with Algeria that handed them top position in Group A.

“I promised to help Angola to reach their best ever placing in the African Cup of Nations and I have done that. We are now ready for any team in the quarterfinals,” the Portuguese coach said at the post-match meeting.

The hosts are participating in their fourth Nations Cup.

Before Monday’s qualification, however, Angola had only reached the last eight once – in 2008 when they were eliminated 2-1 by eventual champions Egypt.

Jose, appointed coach last June, has been credited with reviving Angola ’s football after they failed to make even the final round of World Cup qualifications.

The Antelopes have been backed by a passionate home crowd here in Luanda who will be hoping to register only the 10th time in the tournament’s 27-year-history that hosts have won the trophy.

Egypt achieved the feat in the second edition of the tournament in 1959, and again in 1986 and 2006; Ghana in 1963 and 1978, and Ethiopia in 1962.

Other host winners were Sudan (1970), Nigeria (1980) and Algeria (1990).

Angola will be hoping that joint tournament top scorer Flavio will have recovered in time for the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Flavio was not fielded against Algeria after picking up a hamstring injury four days earlier during their 2-0 win over Malawi. Also out with injury is midfielder Stelvio Cruz.

Most Angolans are happy with their team’s performance but are only hopeful they will go farther. The Antelopes went through their group stages with two draws and a win but have not been really tested.

Knock-out stage difficult

Next up will be either Burkina Faso or Ghana, who were playing last evening for the second spot in the three-team Group C that is topped by Cote d’Ivoire.

Togo withdrew from the competition following a gun attack on their team bus in Cabinda prior to the tournament that led to the death of three people.

Jose conceded that the knock-out stage will be difficult but that his side was ready to take on any team.