CHAN 2024: Angola Coach Pedro Gonçalves Reacts to VAR Drama in Draw Against Harambee Stars

Harambee Stars denied Angola a second goal in their second match of the African Nations Championship at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Thursday night, August 7.

Angola took an early lead through Jo Paciencia in the seventh minute, but Harambee Stars quickly hit back as Austin Odhiambo earned a penalty following a VAR review that confirmed a foul by Fabricio Mafuta in the box.

The Gor Mahia midfielder calmly slotted the spot-kick into the bottom left corner in the 12th minute, netting his second goal of the tournament.

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Angola thought they had secured a stoppage-time winner through João Chingando Manha, aka Kaporal’s rebound finish, but VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for offside in a tense finale.

The game shifted dramatically in the 21st minute when midfielder Marvin Nabwire’s yellow card was upgraded to red after another VAR intervention.

Angola’s head coach, Pedro Gonçalves, has opened up about the last-minute strike that was ruled out by VAR.

“I didn’t watch the game on the TV, I believe it, I believe that it’s fair, that’s why it exists. But I must watch it, I believe that, but I haven’t watched the game on TV yet,” he said after the match.

Pedro Gonçalves added that they will have to go back to the drawing board and work on their major undoings ahead of their clash against Zambia, where they will be eyeing a win.

He noted that going up against Morocco and Harambee Stars has tested them to the limits, and they have learnt from their mistakes.

The tactician added that he has brave players who will look to bounce back from their struggles, insisting that they must secure a win in their remaining group stage matches.

“Well, right now is to recover the players and tomorrow, wake up with a philosophy and mentality to create a strategy to beat Zambia for sure. We have two heavy matches…we played against Morocco, the best country in football in Africa, so the players are very experienced,” Pedro Gonçalves.

“Tonight, we played with the host team, the right atmosphere, so our performance in both matches deserved more, but we are brave and are looking forward to the next match.”

Angola will face Zambia on Sunday, August 10, before going up against two-time champions DR Congo on Thursday, August 14.