Ayumba Ayodi
3 November 2009
Nairobi — Even though Angola will be spectators at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the touring "Coupe du Monde" was reason enough to stimulate Luanda as it prepares to host the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Fifa World Cup trophy - that arrives in Nairobi, courtesy of Coca-Cola, next Thursday - will spout fond memories from the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany where they represented the continent for the first time.
Their national football team, The Black Antelopes, made it to the finals after winning their qualifying group ahead of three-time qualifiers Nigeria. In Germany, the team finished third in their group and did not progress past the first round of the tournament.
Surprisingly, Angola failed to qualify for the third and final round in the race to South Africa after they finished second, behind Benin in Group Three of the second round.
Made of 18-carat gold with a malachite base, the trophy arrived in Luanda on Sunday evening from DR Congo for a five-day stop-over courtesy of Coca-Cola.
The national director of Sports, Raimundo Ricardo, said the presence of the 2010 World Cup of Football trophy honours the Angolan people. He said the trophy's transit through Angola stimulates the country as it prepares to host the ACN on January 10-31.
Ricardo said the visit represents a positive image of the nation and of the continent, taking into account the two competitions ACN and World Cup.
Raimundo Ricardo was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Gonçalves Muandumba, at the ceremony to welcome the trophy.
The trophy has since Sunday evening been in Angola where it will remain until Thursday, as part of its presentation to 53 African nations.
The trophy was on display at a press conference yesterday where photo sessions were held, before the trophy is presented to the public today at Estádio Cidade Universitária in Luanda.
Angola came to international prominence in the 1990s with appearances in two ACN finals in 1996 and 1998. They went under before resurfacing to qualify for the 2006 event and reached the quarter-finals at the 2008 finals.
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