Nations Cup Begins Now for Angola

Despite already playing a game and despite appearing last in its group’s standings Angola is trying to convince itself that the African Nations Cup really starts on Wednesday when it plays Congo.

For those who keep track of the actual schedule Angola played this past weekend and was handily beaten by Cameroon 3-1. Still, Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves told Reuters that the tournament starts with Congo.

“We’re not worried because I think Cameroon are going qualify from this group and the battle is between us, Congo and Togo to see who joins them,” he said. “Cameroon are a much stronger side than the others, we knew that before the competition started. If we don’t get a good result against Congo, then we will be worried.”

So now the pressure is really on the Palancas Negras. I happen to disagree with coach Goncalves. I think Congo poses more of a threat than Togo so anything less than a win on Wednesday will be a disaster.

Congo is coming off a 2-0 convincing victory over Togo. Angola must pay close attention to Congo’s captain Lomana LuaLua who netted both of the goals against Togo.

Angola had no answer for Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o who scored a hattrick to lead the Lions to victory. If the defense doesn’t do a better job marking LuaLua Angola’s African Nations Cup run could be over tomorrow.