Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations winning coach Aliou Cissé has been appointed as the new manager of Angola, marking the start of a new era for the Palancas Negras following a disappointing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The 50-year-old was officially unveiled in Luanda on Thursday, less than 24 hours after leaving his role in Libya, as Angola moved quickly to secure one of the continent’s most respected coaches.
Cissé replaces Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle, who was dismissed after Angola’s early exit at AFCON 2025, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage.
“I am very honoured to join this great footballing nation,” Cissé said at his unveiling. “I see Angola as an ambitious country. Together, we will write a great story.”
Cissé’s appointment signals a fresh start for Angola as they look to rebuild momentum on the continental stage.
The former Senegal captain, who led his country to AFCON glory in 2021, will begin work immediately, with friendly matches scheduled during the June FIFA international window set to serve as the foundation of his tenure.
His primary objective will be guiding Angola through qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Angola had impressed at AFCON 2023, reaching the quarter-finals, but were unable to replicate that form two years later in Morocco, prompting changes in the technical leadership.
Cissé arrives with recent knowledge of his new team, having faced Angola while in charge of Libya during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Those encounters saw Libya draw 1-1 in his first match before securing a 1-0 away victory in the return fixture — a result that played a role in ending Angola’s hopes of reaching the World Cup.
Now tasked with leading the same group of players, Cissé will look to apply his experience and tactical discipline to reshape the squad and build a more consistent side.
With expectations high, the former Senegal coach is expected to bring structure, leadership and a winning mentality to a team seeking stability.
In Luanda, a new cycle has begun — and for Cissé, the challenge will be to transform promise into progress as Angola aim to re-establish themselves among Africa’s competitive forces.