AFCON: Angolan Bank announce huge cash reward for Palancas Negras

Photo : An Angolan player being consoled after Friday’s defeat to Nigeria.

Despite losing their quarter- final match to Nigeria at the ongoing AFCON finals, an Angolan Bank, Banco Keve has announced a cash gift of $9,623 to each member of the team as reward for getting to the final eight of the tournament.

According to platinaline.com, the financial institution redeemed the pledge, which includes a victory mascot column for each player and member of the technical crew for their remarkable performances at the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Also, UNITEL, a leader in telecommunications in the country , announced an extraordinary gift of the iPhone 15, Apple’s latest technological innovation, unlimited calls, SMS, and free internet for a year to each player and technical crew.

The Palancas Negras were appreciated for their beautiful play and scorching attack, which saw them score eight goals before meeting the Super Eagles who sent them packing from the competition.

The Super Eagles progressed to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of today’s quarter-final match between Cape Verde and South Africa at Stade de la Paix, Bouaké on Wednesday, February 7.

Nigeria put up classy display to end Angola’s fairytale run at the tournament, with Ademola Lookman’s 41st-minute goal separating both sides.

The Super Eagles bossed the game from start to finish and were unlucky not to have won by a wider margin.

After defeating Gambia in the Round of 16, the Angolan team received a lot of gifts from corporate bodies in appreciation of their sterling performances at the tournament and to spur them on against Nigeria.

The gifts and offers gave the Palancas Negras unfounded confidence heading into the match against Nigeria, who simply humbled them.

Prior to the quarter- final game with Nigeria, Sodiam EP, an oil and gas company supervised by the Ministry of Mineral Resources, offered the team and technical team the equivalent of $250,000.

In another development, the largest mattress factory in Angola, under the SMARTFLEX brand, announced plans to produce a special and exclusive edition of mattresses for the team.