Angolan coach suggests appointing competent referees from outside Africa

Kumasi, Feb. 5, GNA - The Angolan national team coach, Oliver Goncalves Luis has suggested to the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to settle on appointing qualified referees outside Africa to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament if there was the urgent need for it.

Coach Luis said Africa had competent referees, who can assist in the organization, promotion and development of football on the Continent.

The Coach said this at a post-match press conference at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Monday night after the Egypt-Angola quarterfinal match that the Pharaohs won 2-1.

Asked as to whether he was satisfied with the officiating by the Japanese referee, Nichimura Yuchi, the Angolan Coach retorted: "I usually do not want to talk about referees, but in my opinion we have better referees in Africa, so if we want to invite referees outside we must invite the best ones."

Coach Luis said the two teams fought gamely in the initial stages of the game but his side lost because luck was not on their side. He congratulated Egypt on its victory and qualification to the semi-finals of the tournament.

"Angolan football is on the rise, we will do better next time. Usually when you lose it is assumed you did not play well," he said. The Angolan Coach said as hosts for the 2010 Nations Cup, his team would prepare well to make the desired impact.

Hassan Shehata, The Egyptian Coach, described the Angolan team as a good side and was happy at the end of the day his team won the match.

He said as the defending champions, they could handle Cote d'Ivoire in the semi-finals as they did at the last competition. Hosny Abdel Motelab of Egypt, who won the MTN Man-of-the-Match, said his team would triumph over Cote d'Ivoire in the semi-finals and lift the trophy for the unprecedented sixth time.