CAF Legend, Fabrice Alcebiades Maieco “Akwa” has exclusively told CAFOnline of his excitement about the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023, which entered the final group games on Monday evening.
Akwa, who played for Angola in the 2006, 2008 and 2010 edition of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON heaped praises on the underdogs who are excelling in Côte d’Ivoire.
“We’ve had a good start with lots of surprises. Many of the big teams are not in a good situation, teams like Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon and we have surprises like Cape Verde, Angola who have a chance to Qualify.
“I’m surprised and happy because our football is growing, before we came here we knew Senegal or Cameroon we’re going to win but now we go to the stadium and we don’t know who will win,” he said.
Aside the shocks, one thing the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’lvoire 2023 has seen is great goals with sumptuous technique from some of the attackers.
“We have a lot of good strikers here, Victor Osimhen even though he didn’t score against Côte d’Ivoire but I loved how he played upfront alone, he did a good job.
“I love the goals, Burkina Faso and Algeria scored. Bebe also scored a great goal from a long distance.
“I’m impressed with the strikers because they are there because of the goals and most of the games have produced goals because the teams want to win,” an impressed Akwa said.
Angola were drawn in a tight group with Algeria, Burkina Faso and Mauritania but after two games, they are leading the table with 4 points and have a chance to progress.
The former Angolan international is not surprised by the performance put together by his people.
“I’m not surprised by Angola’s performance, I know the qualities, I know Pedro has worked with a lot of people from the U-17 who were at the World Cup and other players coming who had never played for us before, so I’m not surprised with the performance they have put up. I hope they will improve game by game, he said.
Angola last qualified from their group in 2008 and 2010. They have since failed to progress in subsequent TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.
With a bright start in Côte d’Ivoire, Angola will fancy progressing.
“Our target is game by game, we need to qualify first and foremost from the group stage which is important because for a long time, we haven’t qualified. In 2008 and 2010 when we hosted, we finished in the quarter finals. It’s the players dream to win the tournament as I said, they need to approach it game by game,” the former forward advised.
Fabrice Alcebiades Maieco “Akwa” is part of the Legends selected by CAF for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’lvoire 2023.
For him, it’s an honor and pleasure to be there and serve in that capacity.
“For me, I think it is a great honor for me to be here as a legend and ambassador for CAF and luckily for me, in a city where my own is playing so I can also help them and talk to them,” he said.
