DILI, 20 July 2025 (TATOLI) – The national football teams of Angola and Cabo Verde are set to face off tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Dili Municipal Stadium in a match expected to showcase friendly rivalry and strong sportsmanship among CPLP member nations.
Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference held at the Dili Convention Center, Angola’s head coach Mário Catala acknowledged the quality of the Cabo Verdean team and predicted a closely contested match.
“We expect a good game. We know the strength of Cabo Verde — they play very well. We had the opportunity to face them in a friendly in Angola, where they beat us 2–1,” Catala recalled.
The Angolan coach said his team has worked to address weaknesses exposed in their last encounter.
“Cabo Verde plays in a 4-4-2 system, pressing our defense with two strikers. We’ve spoken with our players about where we went wrong, and we plan to exploit their vulnerabilities,” he explained.
Catala emphasized that Angola will play with determination and mutual respect.
“I can guarantee it will be a good game. We’ll give it our all while respecting our opponent. Win or lose, the outcome is in God’s hands. But we will play well — that’s for sure,” he added.
He also praised the progress of Timor-Leste’s team, noting their promising performance in the opening match against Portugal and highlighting the encouraging growth of youth football in the region.
On the Cabo Verde side, Rui Costa, Technical Director of the Cabo Verdean Football Federation, affirmed his team’s readiness for a competitive match after several weeks of intensive training.
“We’ve had a comprehensive plan with multiple training sessions focusing on tactical and psychological aspects. We believe that by reaching a high-performance level, positive results will follow naturally,” said Costa.
He acknowledged Angola’s strong showing in their previous friendly match but stressed that Cabo Verde is focused on team development rather than immediate results.
“Angola has a strong team and matches the level of the other teams in the tournament,” Costa stated.
When asked about tactical plans, Costa declined to give details but said the team’s formation could shift depending on the game’s momentum.
“As for the formation, we might start with a 4-4-2 and then shift to a 4-3-3 or a diamond setup, depending on how the match unfolds,” he explained
Costa concluded by praising the hospitality in Timor-Leste and calling on the local Cabo Verdean community for support.
“We love being in Timor. The warm welcome we’ve received has been extraordinary — I’ve never experienced anything like it. We hope our community and all Timorese fans will come out and support us for a great match tonight,” he said.
TATOLI
