Great Moments in Angola World Cup History

A lot of the other bloggers on World Cup blog have been writing about their team’s greatest World Cup moments. I would love to do the same for Angola, but this is the first time the Palancas Negras have made it to the World Cup so there aren’t any past great moments. But I am sure this summer we will see plenty of highlights that we will remember for years to come. Here is my dreamy vision of the top five moments we will witness this summer.

#5 Overcoming a dispute with his coach, forward Pedro Mantorras goes on to win the Golden Boot by scoring 8 goals.

#4 Despite reports that his leg is not healthy, Gilberto is added to the final roster. He does not play in any of the friendlies but right before the opening match against Portugal he magically limps onto the field and helps to set up a hattrick by Mantorras as Angola beat Portugal 4-1.

#3 With a spot in the next round on the line, Akwa scores a dramatic 90th minute goal against Iran lifting the Palancas Negras into the final 16. Angolans everywhere flock to Leipzig where the party lasts for an entire week.

#2 Just weeks after losing 4-0 to Argentina in a friendly, Angola gets revenge in the knockout round as Mantorras scores a brace lifting the improbably underdogs into the quarterfinals.

#1 It is Angola and Brazil in the final. The oddsmakers have Angola as a 1,000-1 underdog. After falling behind 2-0, magic occurs. Edson scores an unlikely goal that is than followed by a goal by Love. With the clock on its last tick, coach Goncalves has keeper Joao Ricardo Ferreira move all the way forward as part of a last ditch corner kick. Somehow, someway, Ricardo is able to get his head on the ball and to send it into the goal. Madness ensues. Life is officially great.