Luanda — The Angolan national senior males football team, in view of their history, have to reach at least the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON2013) of South Africa which is to start on January 19 because any result below that can be considered a failure.

This was said last Sunday by the chairman of the Angolan Football Federation (FAF), Pedro Neto.

On an interview to Radio 5 sports station, the FAF boss explained that in the African championship of 2008 and 2010 the Sable Antelopes (Angolan squad) reached the quarter-finals, therefore it is legitimate to want a similar or better achievement at the AFCON2013.

"For us the great target is to pass to the next stage and, afterwards, with the weapons at our disposal we'll face the knock out stage (...)", he stressed.

Pedro Neto also confirmed that the financial conditions to support and remunerate the team are sorted out, including the prizes for each game. He added, however, that the Angolan team need to be cautious about the fact that they are in the same group as the host country's squad.

In the opening game, scheduled for January 19, Angola will face Morocco.

"If we beat Morocco we'll be on the right track, we'll be able to say we're almost there", he emphasized.

In the AFCON2013 the Sable Antelopes are in group A with South Africa, Morocco and Cape Verde.