Angola captain Carlos Manuel Gonçalves Alonso, has said he expects a tough encounter on Sunday's quarter-final clash with Ghana's Black Stars.
The Palancas Negras face four-time winners Ghana in the first quarterfinal match at the November 11 Stadium in Luanda, with their minds pecked on a historic place at the last four.
"Ghana is a great football country and we are aware it will be very tough. We will have to be at the top of our game, both mentally and physically to beat them," Kali told a press conference at the Carlo Tropical Hotel in Luanda.
The skipper nicknamed "Kali" said he reckoned a tough battle citing Ghana's background as a football powerhouse as one of the contributing factors.
The 31-year old central defender, currently without a club after being released by French Ligue Two outfit Arles Avignon, also said the return of compatriots striker Flavio Amado and midfielder Dede would be crucial to their progress.
The duos missed the last game against Algeria and are racing in time to be fit for the last eight clashes.
Describing their performance so far as satisfactory, Kali said they wanted to go a step further.
"I'm proud of my country, of what we have achieved so far, and we want to do more. Playing at home we are almost obliged to win.
If we get through the quarter-final, anything can happen," he said.
The encounter is the first ever between the two sides at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The winner will face the winner of the Cote d'Ivoire - Algeria clash at the semi-final stage.
From: William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent in Luanda, Angola, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports)
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
We’ll cut down imports and boost consumption of local rice and other products – Mahama
6 mins -
Prof Opoku-Agyemang donates to Tamale orphanage to mark her birthday
1 hour -
Don’t call re-painted old schools brand new infrastructure – Prof Opoku-Agyemang tells gov’t
2 hours -
Sunon Asogli plant will be back on stream in a few weeks – ECG
2 hours -
ECOWAS deploys observers for Dec. 7 election
2 hours -
73 officers commissioned into Ghana Armed Forces
2 hours -
Impending shutdown of three power plants won’t happen – ECG MD
2 hours -
Ghana shouldn’t have experienced any ‘dumsor’ after 2017 – IES Boss
3 hours -
Lamens flouted some food safety laws in re-bagging rice – Former FDA Boss Alhaji Hudu Mogtari
4 hours -
Afcon exit: Our issue is administrative failure and mismanagement, not lack of talent – Saddick Adams
4 hours -
WAPCo to commence major pipeline maintenance and inspection from November 25
4 hours -
CEO of Oro Oil Ghana Limited Maxwell Commey listed among the 100 Most Influential People Awards, 2024
4 hours -
Power crisis: Amandi is off due to maintenance, not debt – ECG Boss
4 hours -
Votes cast for late Akua Donkor to be declared invalid – Electoral Commission
5 hours -
You can’t keep “incompetent” Otto Addo for the long term – Countryman Songo
5 hours