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 Uncapped Mario wins Angola call-up
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSLUANDA, Angola -- Third choice goalkeeper Mario is the only uncapped player included in Angola's 23-man World Cup squad named by coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves. Mario goes to Germany instead of previous third choice Goliath in one of five changes to the squad that went to January's African Nations Cup finals. Angola failed to make it past the first round of the continental tournament. Goncalves, unwilling to take chances on unfit players, left out Gilberto of African champions Al Ahli and Maurito of Al Wahda. "These are the best players we have available in terms of quality and we are going to prepare the best we can with them," said Goncalves. "We are going to try to create a cohesive, determined team that will fight to the end," he added. Winger Gilberto is battling to recover from an Achilles tendon injury, while striker Maurito recently injured his leg in an Asian Champions League game. Angola were also unable to pick former Portuguese junior internationals Pedro Emanuel and Chainho because FIFA rejected the bid to change their eligibility. "Of course we are sad that these players didn't make the squad, they would have strengthened it," Goncalves said. Any lingering doubts about Pedro Mantorras, who was ostracised by his team mates after complaining about his lack of playing time during Angola's sloppy African Nations Cup performance, were pushed firmly to one side. Goncalves said striker Mantorras, who plays for Benfica and is considered one of Angola's strongest players, had apologised to his fellow players on Friday and that the dressing room atmosphere had improved. While insisting the spat had been overplayed in Angolan media, the coach has long stressed the importance of team solidarity as the side's key asset. "We don't have big players, big talents, but we play together," he said. The squad has two clubless players in goalkeeper Joao Ricardo, formerly with Portuguese side Moreirense but without a team since the end of last season and captain Akwa who was released by his Qatari club at the end of last year. Angola are grouped at the finals in Germany with Portugal, Iran and Mexico. "We are aware that we are one of the most humble teams in the tournament...but we will do everything we can. It is going to be difficult to get through to the next round because our opposition is very strong," he said. "But for us, it is a victory just to be at the World Cup. We are going to try to play well and represent our country and the African continent with dignity," he added. Angola play Argentina in a warm-up friendly on May 30 in Salerno. Squad:Goalkeepers: Joao Ricardo (unattached), Lama (Petro Atletico), Mario (InterClube) Defenders: Delgado (Petro Atletico), Jamba (AS Aviacao), Kali (FC Barreirense), Lebo Lebo (Petro Atletico), Loco (Primeiro Agosto), Marco Abreu (Portimonense), Marco Airosa (FC Barreirense), Rui Marques (Hull) Midfielders: Andre (Kuwait SC), Edson (Pacos Ferreira), Figueiredo, Mendonca (Varzim), Miloy (InterClube), Ze Kalanga (Petro Atletico) Strikers: Akwa (unattached), Andre Titi Buengo (Clermont Foot), Flavio (Al Ahli), Love (AS Aviacao), Mantorras (Benfica), Mateus (Gil Vicente) 
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