PLAYERS and officials of the Angolan team were rewarded with cash and phone gifts after reaching the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast.
The Palancras Negras outclassed Namibia 3-0 in the round of 16 last Saturday to set up a quarter-final clash against Nigeria, who also beat Cameroon 2-0 on Friday for a place in the semi-final at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
According to Angola Press Agency, Banco Angolano de Investimento, a bank in Luanda, Angola, announced that it would reward every player and coaching staff with five million Kwanzas (approximately N5.41m).
Aguinaldo Jaime, the President of the Board of Directors of UNITEL, a private Angolan mobile phone company, also gave an iPhone 15 with free calls, SMS and internet for a year to every member of the Angolan delegation in Ivory Coast.
Another company Sodiam EP also pledged the sum of $250,000 to both the national team and technical team if Angola secures a place in the final of the 34th edition of the AFCON.
Both teams come into this match with an unbeaten record in the tournament.
Nigeria is on a four-game unbeaten streak at the tournament after victories against Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast and a draw against Equatorial Guinea and they will bid to seal a spot in the last four for the 16th time, while the Palancas Negras are eyeing their first-ever semi-final appearance.
