Chipenda: Angola will be back

By Trevor Kramer in PE Former Angola midfielder Raul Neves Chipenda says the current team have a bright future despite enduring a disappointing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The 2-1 loss to Cape Verde on Sunday saw the Sable Antelopes dumped out of the continental championship, although for 82 minutes they were heading to the quarter-finals, along with South Africa, until two goals in quick succession saw the Blue Sharks claim their place in the last-eight. Chipenda acknowledged that Cape Verde had played to their strengths on the night, but as a young team they will use this tournament as vital experience for their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. And after their defeat on Sunday, Chipenda explained: "I think in this game Cape Verde had a very, very big team and they knew that was their weapon. "The second-half they played directly and they are taller than us and it worked, because in the first-half we were controlling the game." He added: "I think we are doing a very good job with this team. We have youngsters, 19 years old playing in this team, playing this type of competition and we are preparing them. I think they are doing a good job so they are the ones that will continue." When asked if the team was relying too much on captain and striker Manucho to score the goals, he quipped: "I think that is a thing that you are giving all this responsibility to Manucho. "He is one more player, to give his best for the team. This championsip was not very good for him but as all the teams, we have a good team, we have good players. "They are growing and I think they will be a very good team for the next games that we will have." Angola face Senegal, home and away, next before clashes with Uganda and Liberia.