As Angola prepare for their first Africa Cup of Nations knock-out match in 14 years, captain Fredy says his side are motivated by proving their critics wrong.
Written off by many back home before travelling to the delayed 2023 finals in Ivory Coast, the Palancas Negras have made it past the opening round for the first time since making the last eight as hosts in 2010.
In addition, they won two games to top their group – with both achievements Nations Cup firsts for them – ahead of higher-ranked opponents Algeria, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
“In our country, the people weren’t too confident in the team but this was extra motivation for us – to prove them wrong,” Fredy told BBC Sport Africa.
“We are very happy because nobody expected this. Journalists said Algeria would beat us, but I said they need to prove it on the pitch. We have proved we are a tough team.
“Match-by-match, we have the feeling we can do something and the confidence is growing. Now we are among the best 16 teams [in Africa] and now we believe in the dream.”
On Saturday, Angola take on neighbours Namibia in the last 16, with both sides looking to win a knock-out game for the first time.
Both of the Palancas Negras’ previous quarter-final appearances came when the Nations Cup finals had a 16-team format.
Angola fell behind against 2019 champions Algeria in their opening Group D game but responded with brave resistance as they fought back brilliantly to draw 1-1 thanks to striker Mabululu’s second-half penalty.
A thrilling 3-2 win over what Fredy describes as “a very good” Mauritania followed as Angolans recorded their first win in 10 outings at the finals stretching back to 2012, with Gelson Dala becoming the first Angolan to score twice at the tournament in 12 years.
The southern Africans knew a win against Burkina Faso in their final group outing would ensure top spot, and Mabululu and Zine netted in a 2-0 win to equal the country’s record tally of goals in a group stages (six).
They had previously achieved that, and last gone through a group stage unbeaten, on home soil 14 years ago, and the thought of those back in Angola is also driving the team on.
“People have been dancing, having fun and everyone is like this in the country now but in Angola, the lifestyle is not easy,” midfielder Fredy said.
“These wins give them happiness and this makes us very proud – it is one of the best motivations we have.
“I was lucky as my mother and father moved my five brothers and I to Portugal and gave us a different life, but I played in Angola for a year and a half and saw how hard it is to live there.
“The players and I know this and we know that even if people don’t have bread to eat at night, if we win they can sleep. Even if it isn’t the best way, we know it can help.
“We are trying to do everything and fighting for them to give more moments like this.”
Despite having one of the world’s fastest-growing economies thanks to vast mineral and oil reserves, economic growth is highly uneven in Angola.
According to a United Nations-backed website,, external an average of 54% of Angolans “experience multi-dimensional forms of poverty” – covering not only income but nutrition, education and child mortality among other factors.
