Angola head coach Patrice Beaumelle has dismissed concerns over his side’s historical struggles against Bafana, explaining why past AFCON heartbreaks will have no bearing on Monday’s Group B opener.
South Africa will take on the ‘Palancas Negras’ at the Grand Stade de Marrakech [22 December] with kickoff for the much-anticipated tie set for 19:00.
The Angolans come into the match with a poor record against the Hugo Broos side in the CAF tournament.
In their four previous encounters, South Africa have won two and drawn two. The results were a 1-0 win in 1996, a 0-0 draw in 1998, a 1-1 draw in 2008, and a 2-0 win in 2013.
WHAT THE ANGOLA NATIONAL TEAM COACH SAID ABOUT THE RECORD AGAINST BAFANA BAFANA
“I think statistics make people talk, but the reality is tomorrow [tonight],” Beaumelle told journalists in Marrakesh ahead of the match against Bafana.
“Every competition is different, and for us, the target is not only to play and to beat South Africa. The target is to start in a good way because it’s a long process.
“The Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] is a one-month tournament, and we just have to start the way we have to start. Of course, in any competition there are three ways, a win, a draw or a loss,” he added.
PATRICE BEAUMELLE WANTS A DECENT START IN THEIR AFCON GROUP B CAMPAIGN
“If we win, it will be perfect, and it will change the statistics against Bafana Bafana. If we draw or if we lose, we still have two games to go [against Egypt and Zimbabwe in Group B].
“So we are ready to start a long competition, and the main target is not only to play against Bafana Bafana. It’s just a long process, and we are ready to start.”
Meanwhile, Angola are still searching for their first AFCON title. Their best performance in the AFCON competition is reaching the quarter-finals, which they have achieved in 2008, 2010, and most recently, in 2023.
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