Alexander Nunes is one of a group of Angolan fans travelling to Cologne where the Angolan national team is due to make its World Cup debut against European Championship runners-up Portugal, on Sunday night.

Despite being considered very much the underdogs, he is optimistic and says the simple fact that the team is appearing at the World Cup will be a huge encouragement for people back home.

"I think it's a good thing. I hope our team will win. Angola! Angola!"

The central African country has endured almost three decades of civil war which finally came to an end in 2003. Emerging from the chaos and debris that war brings, the Angolan people have now embarked on the arduous journey of rebuilding their nation. Their football team's success in making it to this year's World Cup is at least one bright spark of hope.

"A great encouragement to the people. People in Angola make parties for three days!"

To show their support, Angolan fans - both those living at home and other resident abroad - made early plans for their own World Cup journeys. Alexander proudly tells us that there are around two thousand Angolan fans traveling to Germany to support the team.

"Three days ago, three planes arrived here in Germany with 700 people only from Angola."

In fact, Angola lost their World Cup debut to Portugal 1-0.

But as Alexander Nunes, says - it's not the winning or losing that's important; for him, his fellow fans, and the Angolan team, the most important thing - is being there!

Xiaohong, CRI News, Stuttgart, Germany.