Angola coach, Pedro Conçalves expressed satisfaction with his decision to stay on for the COSAFA Cup, as his team clinched the title with a 5-0 victory over Namibia at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday.
While some national teams, including hosts Bafana Bafana, allowed their head coaches to step back from the tournament, Conçalves chose to remain actively involved. He explained, “I said from the beginning, even before the tournament, that it’s important for the national coaches to be here. I told the board I wanted to be there, to work with the boys because I believe in it and enjoy it.”
This marks Conçalves’ first title as a senior coach, a significant milestone given his journey with the Angola FA, which began at the youth level in 2018. He took over the senior team a year later. Reflecting on the achievement, he noted, “2024 is a year of showcasing to the world. We made a great performance in AFCON, reaching the quarterfinals. Today we matched our 2022 record of nine wins in one year.”
Conçalves emphasized the need to quickly move past this success and focus on upcoming challenges, including the AFCON qualifiers and the pursuit of a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He added, “We have more than six matches to break that record. For me, winning with the U-17 in 2018, finishing third with the U-20 in Zambia, and now winning this big trophy is a significant achievement.”
