On Thursday, the Angolan Football Federation announced the appointment of Senegalese Africa Cup of Nations champion Aliou Cisse as the new head coach of the national team.
Cisse, a former international defender and captain of Senegal’s Lions of Teranga, who led the team to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, resigned as coach of Libya on Wednesday after overseeing just 10 matches.
“This marks a day of rejuvenation, a time to rekindle our hopes and reaffirm our unwavering ambition for the future of our national football,” declared Alves Simoes, president of the Angolan Football Federation, during a ceremony to introduce Cisse in the capital city of Luanda.
The 50-year-old has agreed to a four-year deal.
Simoes expressed that this appointment reflects a vision for the long-term advancement and sustainable success of Angolan football.
“It represents our strong commitment to excellence, innovation, and our capacity to cultivate a team that brings honour to our nation.”
Cisse served as head coach for Senegal from 2015 until 2024, leading the squad to their inaugural Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2021, after previously finishing as runners-up in 2019.
Angola successfully topped their qualifying group to secure a place in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, but their campaign ended in disappointment.
They finished third in Group B, behind Egypt and South Africa, with only two points to show for their efforts, ultimately missing out to Tanzania on goals scored for one of the four best third-placed positions.
Angola’s best performances at the AFCON occurred in 2008 and 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals, and they also made a single appearance at football’s global stage during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The team, known as ‘Palancas Negras’ or the black antelopes, holds the 89th position in the world rankings.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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