In a preview of the game, scheduled for 8pm at the National Stadium, in Cape Verde, the national coach, Pedro Gonçalves, said that they want to start this journey well.
"To grow what has been so many obstacles that we have overcome and, therefore, we do not let ourselves be discouraged by that and tomorrow [Thursday] we will want to start this new journey well", he said, quoted in a video released by the Angolan Federation of Football (FAF).
Regarding the group, he considered that "this model is a fairer model of qualifying for the World Cup (...), everyone will have the opportunity to get there".
Among other aspects, he considered that there will not be easy games. "There won't be any easy games, certainly there won't be any, but it's up to us and everyone else to fight in a dignified manner, with fair play, with attitude on the field, and in the end whoever is most competent qualifies", indicated.
The national coach also indicated the synthetic field as an obstacle, taking into account that the team is used to playing on natural grass.
"Naturally we are not used to competing on synthetic grass (...). It is an obstacle, but in any case we have to be prepared for it and it won't just be here, in Mauritius in the next game we will also play on synthetic grass (...), these are circumstances. Between a synthetic and a bumpy or unconditioned lawn, we would certainly all prefer a synthetic that is in good condition (...). We are not going to take refuge in that, naturally it is not the surface we most like to develop, which we are so used to, but let's focus on what our performance can be on the field", he indicated, quoted in the video.
Angola has already been present at a World Cup, in Germany in 2006.
The national team's campaign against Cape Verde seems to be marked by bad luck, with Angola registering two defeats and a draw against the Cape Verdeans, according to Angop.
According to the FAF, the national team is already in the city of Praia, where it arrived on Wednesday afternoon.
"With the national team, the President of the Angolan Football Federation, Artur Almeida e Silva, his vice president for Administration and finance, Paulo Neto and senior FAF officials also traveled", reads the FAF note.
