/ 26 January 2008

Angola hopeful of upsetting Senegal

Angola are hopeful of upsetting favourites Senegal when they meet in their African Nations Cup Group D match on Sunday.

South Africa face Tunisia in the other half of a double bill at the Tamale Sports Stadium where all four teams have one point from their opening match and where organisers will want to avoid a repeat of last Wednesday’s ticket problems.

”It will be a difficult game for us, they are candidates for the title but there are 11 players on each side,” said Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves.

”The pressure will be on Senegal but we are going to do the best we can. It’s difficult but not impossible to win.

Both Senegal and Angola conceded late goals as they were held by Tunisia and South Africa respectively in Wednesday’s games.

On paper, the tie is a mismatch with Senegal boasting a squadful of players based with European clubs while Angola’s players hail mostly from local clubs or lower league outfits in Europe.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said the group was wide open.

”I said before that any of these teams could finish in the top two and I was right because everybody is equal after the first game,” he said.

”We are still considering ourselves as possibilities. The way we played in the second half against Angola has given us hope for the match against Tunisia.”

Despite building a lavish new stadium on the outskirts of the provincial town, authorities were left red-faced last Wednesday when the two games were played in a half-empty arena.

At the same time, hundreds of people said they had been unable to get in. Authorities in Tamale have blamed the organising committee in Accra for not sending the tickets in time. – Reuters