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Oil, diamonds ... and footballBy Phuong-Y Nguyen for CNN SPECIAL REPORT(CNN) -- As the World Cup kicks off, past and present foes revisit one another on the pitch. In a remarkable twist of fate, Angola will face their formal colonial adversary Portugal. Portugal is no easy team to defeat, but many Angolans will see this as a chance stand tall and on equal terrain with their former colonial rulers. "We are enthusiastic about Angola's chances, but not unrealistic, many Angolans have simply adopted an attitude of wait and see," says Arlindo Macedo, the Angolan team press officer. Angola, a country nestled in Southern Africa, is perhaps the least known of World Cup finalists and is rated at 68th in the FIFA rankings. "We have proved that Angola is not just about oil, war and poverty," says Captain Akwa, who plays football in Qatar. Despite Angola's large diamond and oil reserves, the country still remains desperately poor with a life expectancy of only 39 years old for men according to a U.N. report. "This is a pretty impressive accomplishment considering our goalie Joao Ricardo is 36 years old," Macedo says jokingly. "The cities and slums have always been the football playground for children who dream of escaping poverty by becoming a star player." Angolans see their arrival in the World Cup as a miracle, yet not all share that same enthusiasm. "Opposition parties to President Santos will see this as a chance to criticize the government if Angola does poorly in the World Cup," Macedo says. Easy to see, considering the Angolan government has invested U.S.$12 million to fund the nation's quest to the World Cup. As the line between politics and football is difficult to divide at times, fans of the national side are happy to see a side that beat off strong opposition to make it to Germany. Following Angola's progress in the World Cup will not be easy for many. In Luanda, Angola's capital, most residents live in absolute darkness with little or no electricity. A television set is a rare luxury. "Most people will hear about Angola's results through word of mouth, but it will not diminish their hope for the team, in fact it will even add to their sense of imagination and hope" Macedo says. For a country that has already endured 16 years of fighting, Angola's qualification to the World Cup will certainly fuel the hopes of a nation for the next month. 
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