Luanda: José Luis Prata, the chairperson of the football club ASA, has criticized the Angolan Football Federation (FAF) for the country's lackluster performance in the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, attributing the failure to insufficient administrative strategy. According to Angola Press News Agency, Prata, a former vice-president of the National Teams, emphasized that the blame for not matching or surpassing the quarterfinals achievements of the prior tournament in Côte d'Ivoire should not fall on the coaching staff or the players. Instead, he views them as victims of poor planning by the federation. Speaking to ANGOP, Prata advocated for a more inclusive approach from the sport's governing body, incorporating those with genuine football expertise. He questioned the exclusion of significant contributors to the sport from major decision-making processes, contrasting this with other African nations and international contexts where such figures are routinely involved. Prata highlighted that successful co untries integrate prominent figures into decision-making, leveraging their expertise to achieve success. Conversely, he lamented that Angola's federation opts for an exclusionary approach. He stressed the importance of solidarity and collaboration across all sectors of the federation's management for achieving success. Reflecting on the current issues, Prata suggested that French coach Patrice Beaumelle should be dismissed for the failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, although he acknowledged that Beaumelle is not solely responsible for the team's disappointing performance in the Africa Cup of Nations. Prata dismissed the federation's claim that improving domestic competitions hinges on international results. He recalled Angola's football successes during his tenure as vice president from 1986 to 1990, attributing them to strategic planning and a unified approach. He expressed confidence in Angola's potential to compete against any African team, stressing t he need for discipline, organization, and a comprehensive collective effort. Looking ahead to the next Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya from June 19 to July 18, 2027, Prata emphasized the strategic advantage of Angola's exemption from the initial qualifying phase, a privilege due to its CAF and FIFA rankings. He advised utilizing this exemption wisely to avoid previous mistakes, such as abrupt coaching changes before major tournaments. Prata criticized the decision to dismiss former Portuguese coach Pedro Gonçalves, who he believed was performing well, and replacing him with Beaumelle shortly before the African competition. Angola will bypass the preliminary tournament and enter directly into the qualifying group stage for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The preliminary phase involves lower-ranked CAF and FIFA countries, with home and away matches scheduled for March 23-31. Winners of the preliminary matches will advance to join Angola and 42 other teams in the main qualifying phase, running between September and November. Notably, the 2027 tournament will be the last biennial Africa Cup of Nations with 24 teams, transitioning to a four-year cycle from 2028.
