Angola National Football Team

2006 is the first time that the Angola National Football Team has qualified for the World Cup Finals, doing so in front of more famous African rivals Nigeria.

The Angola team emerged from a difficult African Group 4, in which their competitors were Algeria, Gabon, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. This group was only given one qualifying spot, and Nigeria were short odds favourites to win it, with Algeria also difficult opposition.

In the end the Angola squad finished level on top of the group with Nigeria on 21 points. They progressed thanks to their record against Nigeria in the qualifiers, beating them 1-0 at home, but perhaps more importantly gaining a 1-1 away draw.

The Angola National football team only suffered one defeat in qualifying, in a 2-0 away defeat at Zimbabwe, never the easiest place to visit.

The Angola soccer team do not posess many household names, Mantorras & Akwa being their most prominent. Expect them to play a lively, attacking & physical game under the watch of their Brazilian coach Luis Goncalves.

The Angola team is currently 63 in FIFA's World rankings.