Many chose to join friends around the table in one of the most traditional restaurants in the city, well known by Portuguese food lovers, São João, which had a full house, with diners staring at the screens scattered around the room, and for today more focused on the game rather than the meal.
The first goal, 17 minutes into the game, was celebrated with little effusiveness, but enthusiasm grew when about a quarter of an hour later Portugal scored again.
The emotion intensified whenever the Portuguese players approached the Swiss goal, with the supporters oscillating between the indignation of the "pass the ball" and the approval of the applause for the best bids and the parade of goals that continued until the final moments.
Felisbela Vitorino, born in Barroselas (Viana do Castelo) and resident in Angola for several years, experienced the match with emotion, assuming a passion for football, especially when she plays for the national team.
"Being in Portugal or abroad, the emotion is the same, perhaps being away is even more special", he told Lusa, considering that the game was "easier than I was expecting" and praising the "team unity" that, believes, will make Portugal reach the final.
"Viva Portugal!" she exclaimed.
Luís Antunes, who was born in Alenquer and has been in Angola for 15 years, admits that he lives the days of the game with "a different emotion", and with great satisfaction when Portugal wins.
"Here's another taste," he jokes.
For Luís, the games have their own routine and each one has its amulet. This World Cup is his friend Ricardo, who accompanied him this Tuesday and in the games that Portugal won, he explains.
"We'll be here again on Saturday, it's going to be our lucky charm and our contribution. He's my charm and I'm his charm and we're both rooting for the national team", he stresses.
Despite still having doubts about who will be the opponent in the final, he says he is "98 to 99 percent sure that Portugal will be champion".
Regarding the performance of the African teams, he considers it positive that there are more teams coming to stand out to "end the supremacy of the European teams".
"What you can see is that the big teams are going into decline and the small teams - like Portugal a few years ago - are on the rise, just like the African teams. Europe in big clubs and bring all the knowledge to their national teams", he commented.
Also visibly in a good mood is Licínio Barreira, the current owner of the restaurant that has been established in Luanda for over 50 years.
"For someone 6000 kilometers from home, these joys do us a lot of good, they give us a lot of encouragement to continue working tomorrow and next week, because it's not easy to be away from our families, our friends. We do this homework, invite people, pass on the message, always trying to ensure that the house has a good occupancy rate, friendly, without confusion", he told Lusa.
Despite being at work, he kept an eye on the progress of the games.
"I was very attentive to Portugal's goals, I was thrilled as the whole room vibrated. I think we have a team to go to the semi-finals and even the final", he predicts, adding that he has already received several reservations for Saturday, day when Portugal faces Morocco and there will be a mix of Angolan and Portuguese food.
