21 February 2011
The semifinal line-up has been completed at the 2011 African Nations Championship with all four teams confident that can go all the way in this year’s tournament.
Hosts Sudan will take on Angola in Tuesday’s first semifinal, with the other match between an all-north African affair between Tunisia and Algeria.
Angola skipper Kali says the ow-key nature of his side might have surprised one or two sides in the competition, and that a lack of star names might be to their advantage.
Perhaps its because we have not got so called big names amongst us said Kali. We went to Brazil to prepare and before that the morale and atmosphere surrounding national football team was not a positive one.
After CAN 2010 we experienced a dip and low point with our football in the doldrums. This opportunity at CHAN has been a wonderful one and l think this team has taken it well so far, Kali says.
The Angola star says Sudan will be tough in their own back yard, but adds that he feels his side does have the advantage given their home support.
Sudan will have the home support and the whole nation behind them and we know they play an attacking brand of football but we have not come this far to just make it easy for them. We have reached a new record in our countrys participation at a continental tournament and the boys want more and will do their best to get achieve success.
Meanwhile, Sudan coach Mohamed Abdallah says he hopes his side will be able to finish their chances, something that has been a problem through the 2011 CHAN, despite their progression through to the semifinals.
Goalscoring has been a worrying phenomenon in Sudan football. We always create a lot of chances but find it difficult placing the ball in the net, Abdallah says. I hope to work on the confidence of my players in goal scoring positions. Also, we will work on the art of scoring and I am very sure the changes will reflect against Angola.
We are working on our lapses before the Angola game. The crowd has been superb and has supported us all through.
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