Angola Player Profile: Fabrice Akwa

February 16th, 2006 | By: WC Bob | 5 Comments »

Akwa Akwa is so good he only needs one name. Akwa is the captain of Angola and arguably the heart and soul of the Palancas Negras. Playing in Qatar for club team Al Wakra, the forward is one of the few Angolan players to have significant experience playing abroad. At 33, he is the oldest player on the team.

Akwa scored some crucial goals throughout qualifying, including the winners against Rwanda in the last game, and in a game against Nigeria. Akwa has scored 31 goals in more than 67 international appearances, a feat that has led everyone in Angola to love the guy to death.

Once hailed as the ‘new Eusebio’ when a prospect at Benfica in Portugal, Akwa failed to live up to the billing in Lisbon and Academica Coimbra, but he still has the talent and strength to lead Angola

“This is the first time we are in the finals and we want to show off our football. We also want to show there is more to Angola than just war and oil,” Akwa said.

It might be said that as Akwa goes, so goes Angola. You heard it here first. Akwa is going to be a monster during the World Cup, scoring 5 goals in group play. Take that to the bank!

Tags: Academica Coimbra, Akwa profile, Al Wakra, Angola, Benefica, Fabrice Akwa

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Comments

By Dido | February 16th, 2006 at 1:44 pm

I doubt that Akwa will score more than 1 goal in the world cup. This is if he even scores 1. I also think he should be dropped and Mantorras should take his place.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Pasha | February 16th, 2006 at 1:49 pm

As a wise man once said, we shall see. I personally would like to see Akwa playing more of a withdrawn forward role with Mantorras up front, but coach knows best. I have faith in Akwa. He might be a step or six slower, but he is still crafty.

Posted from United States

By plashch | February 17th, 2006 at 10:41 am

My first look at Akwa was at this year’s Nations Cup. I assume he was off form, because more than anyone he was responsible for Angola’s early exit. He missed a hatful of chances and half-chances; his workrate was fine, and so was his creativity, but his technique was awful. I hope the coach has the courage to bench him if he starts the World Cup that way.

Posted from United States

By Tyson | August 5th, 2006 at 4:53 pm

If you people put you’re mind to thought, you would know that Mantorras can’t start because of his bad leg, I can’t recall him ever starting a game for Benfica either ever since he injured it, becuase it doesnt have the strength to go the full 90 minutes, so hes a threat off the bench. But talking about Akwa, I never thought he would get 5 goals in group play, and now that the World Cup is over, he didn’t get any goals, but he tried some nice bicycle kicks.

Posted from Canada