Angola head coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves has blamed tournament inexperience for their early exit from the African Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.

“We had a lack of experience on the field, but we will prepare well to overcome this at the World Cup.” said the Angola coach, who is now a national hero after guiding the civil-war torn country to their first ever finals appearance.

Goncalves also thinks that bad luck had played a part in the ‘Palancas Negras’ failing to secure a quarter-final place in the Nations Cup saying: “We tried with so much effort, but we had no luck. We did all we could do but fell short.” Angola just missed out on goal difference to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group B.

Angola managed to beat fellow World Cup debutants Togo 3-2 in their last group match in Cairo, only to miss out on qualification on goal difference to the second- placed Democratic Republic of Congo. Cameroon won the group with three wins out of three.

Angola's success against Togo was their first ever win in the African Nations Cup, in three tournament appearances.

But coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves insists that even though his side were knocked out in the group stages, the competition will stand his side in good stead for their first ever trip to the World Cup Finals.

“We got four points, but we are not happy to miss out on qualification,” said Oliveira Goncalves, who won hero status in his war-torn country after leading them to a surprise place at the World Cup in Germany.

“We got some good experience at this tournament, this run has been very good for us. We will try to use this for our World Cup adventure.”

The coach said Angola held no lofty ambitions of success in Germany but rather the intention of promoting Angolan soccer.

“After 30 years of civil war to have qualified for the World Cup is a massive boost for our country and our people, and our aim in Germany is try and make them happy and proud.”

Goncalves said that the ‘Palancas Negras’ would confirm a programme of friendly matches, with participation in the Cosafa Castle Cup, and a one-month preparatory training camp ahead of the World Cup lined up in order to prepare for the finals where they have been drawn in Group D, and will face Mexico, Iran, and Portugal.

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