In a statement released by his press office, the 48-year-old coach explains that the decision "was taken based on a considered and rigorous assessment of the fairness of the process of defining technical leadership in this new competitive cycle."
"Having always been involved in conversations aiming at its continuity since the end of the 2024 World Cup, Marcos Antunes drew conclusions from the impasse that occurred, as well as from the latest public developments, with the differences in vision and ambition for the future of futsal in Angola now being clear", says the statement.
The coach, who took over as head coach of the national team in 2022, thanked the Angolan people "for their unconditional support for the team".
"Together, we have lived unforgettable moments and I hope that they will be the fuel so that the flame of futsal never goes out in the country", says the statement, in which the coach thanks all the players, and expresses a wish: "I want to believe that what we achieved and dreamed of was not in vain".
In 2024, the team was present in its second World Cup final phase, and finished in second place in the CAN.