Angola are one of the teams with the largest appearance streaks at the Olympic Games, eight consecutive editions, dating back to Atlanta 1996. However, the African side has secured only one quarter-finals berths in their history, but has been a mainstay and the dominant force of the African continent over the last decades.

The last three editions of the Olympics saw Angola seal four of their six wins in the 34 matches played so far in the competition. At London 2012, they secured a win against hosts Great Britain and did not lose by a gap larger than five goals. Four years later, at Rio 2016, they beat Romania (23:19) and Montenegro (27:25), while at Tokyo 2020 they beat Japan (28:25) and drew against the Republic of Korea (31:31).

Indeed, they might be a team with a winning percentage of 17% at the Olympics, but they always were a hard team to beat, with a strong core, very physical defence and fast attack, which can cause issues to any of the opponents, provided Angola have a good day.

They clinched their Paris 2024 ticket early, on their home court, in Luanda, in October 2023, when they swept their opponents, 22:21 against Senegal, 30:15 against Congo and 27:21 against Cameroon at the 2023 CAHB African Women's Qualification Tournament. But they also finished 15th at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, with a heavy loss against Norway, 19:37, but also with a one-goal loss against France.

Angola will also meet France at Paris 2024, having lost, 20:33, in a friendly match before the start of the Olympics, as well as one friendly match against Spain, another opponent in the preliminary round of the competition, highlighting the challenge the African team has on their hands.

“It is very important for the side to get their rhythm in check, these are only friendly matches. The sensations are good, the feeling is good, but we have something to work on, we lack some experience, but I think it is a good base to build upon,” said Angola’s coach, Carlos Viver.

Viver has plenty of experience, as he was the Spain women’s national team coach a few years ago, leading the side at Tokyo 2020, and has assumed the mantle of Angola’s coach recently, after being the assistant at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship.

With right back Azenaide Carlos and left wing Natália Santos featuring at the Olympics for the fifth time, while line player Albertina Kassoma also bringing more experience, Angola are well-versed in that respect at Paris 2024, but they also have some players who are just making their debut, which could prove to be their undoing in such a competitive environment.

Angola

Coach: Carlos Viver

Key Players: Azenaide Carlos (right back), Albertina Kassoma (line player), Teresa Almeida (goalkeeper)

Qualification for Paris 2024: 2023 CAHB African Women’s Qualification Tournament: Winners

Previous appearances: 1996: 7th, 2000: 9th, 2004: 9th, 2008: 12th, 2012: 10th, 2016: 8th, 2020: 10th 

Group at Paris 2024: Group B: Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, France, Brazil, Angola