Palancas Negras
The Palancas Negras, Angolas national soccer team played their first game in 1977 against the Cuban national soccer team, Angola beat Cuba 1-0.
The first time that Angola qualified for the African Cup of Nations was in 1996. They were drawn in group A along with South Africa, Egypt and Cameroon. The tournament was no good for them for they ended up in the bottom of the group not qualifiyng, having lost their first two games against South Africa and Egypt but managing to tie with Cameroon 3-3. Angola afterwards qualified to participate in their second African Cup of Nations in 1998, Angola did not pass the first round having drawn their first two games against South Africa and Namibia but losing to Côte d'Ivoire. After missing the last tournaments in 2006 Angola qualified again for the African Cup of Nations and recording their first win in the tournament against Togo winning 3-2, but failed to pass the second round after drawing against Congo DR and losing against Cameroon. Angola’s best performance was in 2008 were they were drawn in group D where they drew 1-1 and 0-0 against South Africa and Tunisia but beat Senegal 3-1. They qualified until the quarter finals where they lost against the soon to be champions Egypt. In 2010 Angola hosted the first African Cup of Nations where they were able to reach the quarter finals where they lost 1-0 against Ghana. Even though Angola hadnt been succesful in the African Cup of Nations they won the COSAFA Cup in 1999, 2001 and 2004.
In 2006 Angola qualified for their first World Cup which was being hosted by Germany, where Angola was drawn into group D which was where they played Portugal (Loss), Mexico (Draw) and Iran (Draw). Angola had lost one game against Portugal and drawn one game against Mexico but still had chances of qualifying if they beat Iran but the match finished 1-1 leaving Angola out of the World Cup. In 2010 the Angolan team was higly expected to qualify but failed to do so, this was because some of their most experienced players had retired like for example: Akwa and Joa Ricardo.
The first time that Angola qualified for the African Cup of Nations was in 1996. They were drawn in group A along with South Africa, Egypt and Cameroon. The tournament was no good for them for they ended up in the bottom of the group not qualifiyng, having lost their first two games against South Africa and Egypt but managing to tie with Cameroon 3-3. Angola afterwards qualified to participate in their second African Cup of Nations in 1998, Angola did not pass the first round having drawn their first two games against South Africa and Namibia but losing to Côte d'Ivoire. After missing the last tournaments in 2006 Angola qualified again for the African Cup of Nations and recording their first win in the tournament against Togo winning 3-2, but failed to pass the second round after drawing against Congo DR and losing against Cameroon. Angola’s best performance was in 2008 were they were drawn in group D where they drew 1-1 and 0-0 against South Africa and Tunisia but beat Senegal 3-1. They qualified until the quarter finals where they lost against the soon to be champions Egypt. In 2010 Angola hosted the first African Cup of Nations where they were able to reach the quarter finals where they lost 1-0 against Ghana. Even though Angola hadnt been succesful in the African Cup of Nations they won the COSAFA Cup in 1999, 2001 and 2004.
In 2006 Angola qualified for their first World Cup which was being hosted by Germany, where Angola was drawn into group D which was where they played Portugal (Loss), Mexico (Draw) and Iran (Draw). Angola had lost one game against Portugal and drawn one game against Mexico but still had chances of qualifying if they beat Iran but the match finished 1-1 leaving Angola out of the World Cup. In 2010 the Angolan team was higly expected to qualify but failed to do so, this was because some of their most experienced players had retired like for example: Akwa and Joa Ricardo.