Family and friends of Angolan striker Mabululu are praising his standout performance in the 34th edition of the AFCON, they express confidence that Angola is poised to make history in the upcoming Friday match.
The Angolan striker, last season’s top scorer in the Egyptian League, is a widely discussed figure in Nigeria, who will be their opponents in the CAN quarter-finals on Friday, both in the press and on social media, bringing joy to his father, João Paciência Tenente Vunge.
Expressing confidence in Angola’s victory in the next game, Cristóvão Paciência Mabululu’s father nurtures the dream of seeing the team, led by Portuguese coach Pedro Gonçalves, win the CAN.
“Among the players in all the teams, Mabululu’s name is the most feared, because when he has the ball, the result is always a goal. We’re happy and we all deserve congratulations” he told Lusa in Cazenga, a popular neighborhood in Luanda, where he lives with his family and runs a hotel and restaurant business.
Cristóvão, 86, expects Angola to win, even if his son doesn’t score.
“I hope for victory, regardless of whether Mabululu scores or not. What matters is the country, the national team. We want to win and I’m sure that Gelson Dala, Mabululu and Gilberto will give us the victory. Winning the CAN is our goal and, as an Angolan and a father, the cup has to come to Angola” he said.
Mabululu’s father has followed his son’s career with emotion, highlighting in particular his goal in the team’s opening game in this edition of the CAN, against Algeria, when the Angolans were losing 1-0.
“The goal he scored against Algeria, when we drew 1-1, is the goal that sticks in my memory. It was a classy goal. The family got emotional and our street was filled with people shouting Mabululu’s name” he recalls.
The Angolan striker’s wife, Cesarina Paciência, also dreams of winning the trophy, expressing her joy at the performance and cohesion shown by the Angolan players on the pitch.
“I’m enjoying the success of our team, there’s a lot of motivation and unity, and we hope that in Friday’s game we’ll have a good result and I already believe that they’ll bring the cup back to Angola and make the people happy” she said.
