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The Brave Warriors are through to the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time after finishing the group stage among the best third-placed teams.

Group D winner Angola is the favourite to become the first nation to reach the quarter-finals ahead of Sunday's (AEDT) Round of 16 clash in Bouake.

But Benjamin cannot remember a time when Namibia was not an underdog and believes there is a steely determination among his squad.

“We have some good technical players with big hearts and there is the signature of the coach,” he said.

“It’s the determination, it’s ambition, it’s mentality, these boys want to succeed and they understand everything about the team.

“We want to be part of the best 16 teams in Africa and definitely we are among the best 16 – it is a motivation in itself.

“I don’t remember if Namibia will go into any game with the odds favouring us, it will always go against us.

“Our coaches are educated to know that players are playing at good levels and they are hungry.”

Angola is bidding to progress to the last eight for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010 on the back of wins over Mauritania and Burkina Faso and a 1-1 draw with Algeria.

Head coach Pedro Goncalves is confident of ending the Black Antelopes’ lengthy wait for a quarter-final.

“It has been a historic moment for us and we have a bigger game tomorrow, perhaps the biggest game in the last 14 years of the Angolan national team,” the Portuguese said.

“For sure, it will be very tough but I have confidence tomorrow everybody will do a great job.

“Namibia is a very powerful team, they are very brave.

“We need to be considerate in our passing. We have to be balanced because if we lose our balance, Namibia can be dangerous for us.”