Written off as no-hopers when they arrived in Germany, a gritty performance to force a goalless draw with Mexico has given the southern African nation a shot at finishing in the top two of Group D.

They need to beat an Iranian team smarting from their elimination after two defeats and desperate to return home with a face-saving victory.

The odds are stacked against Angola.

Just a draw for Mexico against the already-qualified Portugal in Gelsenkirchen would put the Central Americans through regardless of the Angola result.

The Mexicans have a superior goal difference - the next criteria after points in deciding the group positions - so the Angolans need to score the first goals in their World Cup finals history if they are to stand any chance of progressing.

Coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves said there was no pressure on his team because they had already exceeded all expectations.

"We had two objectives when we came here: to do our country and our continent proud and I think we achieved that to perfection in this game," he said after the Mexico match.

A remarkable performance from goalkeeper Joao Ricardo in that game kept Angola's hopes alive.

The 36-year-old, who is currently without a club, said that win or lose against Iran, the team have already lifted the spirits of a country, which only emerged from civil war in 2002.

"Our country has been through a difficult period," said Joao Ricardo. "This success will give millions of people great joy.

"What is my future? My future is winning against Iran."

Akwa, the team's longest-serving player, who is also without a club since leaving Qatar's Al Wakra last year, admitted that the team was "nervous" before their last game and said inexperience, could count against them.

Angola will be forced to shuffle their pack because midfielder Andre is suspended after being sent off against Mexico.

Iran entered the tournament with high hopes of reaching the second round for the first time but they crashed to Mexico and then Portugal, scoring a solitary goal on the way.

Their Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic was heavily criticised by the Iranian press.

"He has to be held accountable for all this extravagance and wasting of money," fumed leading sports daily Iran Varzeshi.

Brankovic could be about to hand 37-year-old Ali Daei - the scorer of a world record 109 international goals in 148 matches - his farewell World Cup appearance after he was dropped for the Portugal defeat.

Teams

Angola (4-5-1)
1-Joao Ricardo; 20-Loco, 3-Jamba, 5-Kali, 21-Delgado; 17-Ze Kalanga, 15-Rui Marques, 7-Figueiredo, 11-Mateus, 14-Mendonca; 10-Akwa.

Iran (4-4-1-1)
1-Ebrahim Mirzapour; 13-Hosein Kaebi, 5-Rahman Rezaei, 3-Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh, 20-Mohammad Nosrati; 2-Mehdi Mahdavikia, 8-Ali Karimi, 7-Ferydoon Zandi, 21-Mehrzad Madanchi; 14-Andranik Taymoorian; 9-Vahid Hashemian.