Benfica wins Mantorras tug-of-war

Mantorras in the Under-20 Nation's Cup final

Pedro 'Mantorras' Manuel will not play for Angola for another year to concentrate on his club duties at Benfica.

An understanding reached between the Portuguese club and the Angolan Football Federation means the striker is out of all internationals until the start of the qualifying for the 2004 African Nations Cup and Olympic Games.

Talks between the club and the AFF were prompted by Mantorras pulling out of Angola's squad for the Cosafa Cup semi-final against Zambia on Saturday.

The match clashes with Benfica's Portuguese league fixture against Salgueiros.

The agreement means that if Angola qualify for the Cosafa Cup final, the striker will not play.

21-year-old Mantorras has become the most popular Angolan player of recent years and his pre-season performances at Benfica attracted wide media attention.

Benfica made a bid for for Mantorras in April after he became the top scorer at the Under-20 African Nations Cup in Ethiopia.