Angola's head coach, Pedro Goncalves, has suggested that Ghana's victory over his team during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Kumasi was aided by luck.
In that match, which marked Chris Hughton's debut as Ghana's coach, a last-minute goal by Antoine Semenyo secured a 1-0 win for the Black Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Reflecting on the game, Goncalves noted that Angola was unfortunate not to come away with a better result. "The last time was tough for us because we lost in the last play of the game on a set piece—there was a lot of luck for Ghana to finish on goal," Goncalves remarked during a press conference on Wednesday.
However, the Angolan coach is optimistic about the upcoming rematch in the 2025 AFCON qualifier, scheduled for Thursday, September 5, 2024. "Tomorrow is a different story and moment. I think both national teams are better now; we've grown a lot. We feel confident not just for tomorrow but for the future."
The match, set to kick off at 4:00 pm Ghana time, will see the Black Stars aiming to secure their 25th AFCON appearance, while Angola seeks to build on their progress and challenge for a spot in the prestigious tournament.
