Angola’s coach Beaumelle targets 2025 AFCON glory in Morocco

Angola’s new coach Patrice Beaumelle is targeting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) glory in Morocco, bringing a wealth of African football experience and a philosophy of unity to the Palancas Negras.

The Frenchman, a two-time AFCON winner, stated his intent is to prove the team’s worth through “action, not words.”

For Beaumelle, 47, this appointment marks a return to familiar ground, having previously worked in Angolan football 15 years ago. “It feels more like continuing a story that began 15 years ago,” he said in an exclusive interview with CAFOnline.

With eight AFCON tournaments under his belt, including wins with Zambia in 2012 and Côte d’Ivoire in 2015, his confidence is rooted in a deep understanding of the competition.

He takes charge of an Angolan side on a promising trajectory. The team, reigning COSAFA Cup champions, impressed by reaching the quarter-finals in the last AFCON and has been drawn in a challenging Group B for Morocco 2025, alongside rivals South Africa, Mozambique, and record-holders Egypt.

Beaumelle believes strongly in the current generation of players. “Angola has a great generation of players,” he noted, emphasizing the country’s status as a “sporting nation” with enormous potential. He sees qualifying for AFCON as a baseline expectation and is keen to nurture talent from the youth teams, which he says are “full of promise.”

His primary task is to forge a cohesive football identity from a pool of technically gifted individuals. “Talent alone is not enough,” Beaumelle asserted.

“The team always comes first. I want the players to understand that ‘alone I go faster, but together we go further.’ Everyone must give their best for the nation. No one is above the team.”

The coach aims to build a side that is “difficult to play against—a team with personality, character, and resilience.” This philosophy, honed from his experiences across the continent, will be central to their preparations.

“We will continue what works, build on our strengths, and address our weaknesses,” he said. “We respect every opponent, but we fear no one.”

When it comes to Angola’s historical role as underdogs in major tournaments, Beaumelle is not just accepting of the label—he welcomes it. “I actually like that idea,” he said, reiterating his core mantra. “I prefer actions to words. It’s better to prove ourselves on the pitch than to make predictions.”

Balancing the immediate pressure for results with long-term development is a challenge he plans to meet head-on. “The key is to get good results now in order to buy time for the future,” Beaumelle explained, adding a philosophical note: “Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is uncertain — today is a gift, that’s why it’s called ‘the present.’ So, we’ll work day by day.”

His final message to the Angolan people was one of heartfelt ambition. “My dream is to make the people of Angola proud,” Beaumelle shared, “not just for a moment, but for generations to come.” With a clear vision and a proven track record, his leadership will be crucial as Angola prepares for its campaign in Morocco.