Angolan club Petro Atletico have re-hired Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos, who helped them to a shock win over Mamelodi Sundowns four years ago and last season took Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces to the African Champions League final.

Santos replaces compatriot João Pedro Sousa, who was dismissed this week following defeat in the Champions League, where Petro lost 2–0 in Harare last weekend.

Former Cape Town City goalkeeper Hugo Marques was sent off in the opening minute of the Champions League second round, first leg, and goals from Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona in the second half won the game, leaving Petro needing a major fightback in Friday’s return clash in Luanda.

Petro, who have won the last five GiraBola titles, are second in the Angola league standings with four wins and two draws in their opening six games.

But they have not conceded a goal, which makes the sacking of the 55-year-old Sousa harsh.

The 49-year-old Santos terminated his contract at Nacional Madeira over the past month and a half in order to once again take charge of the reigning Angolan champions, whom he previously coached between 2021 and 2024. In his previous spell, he won three league titles, three Angolan Cups and one Angolan Super Cup over three seasons.

"The decision to accept the invitation to return to Petro Luanda was made entirely with my heart. Just as in 2021, I arrive with the ambition of winning titles for a very special club."

Santos also expressed gratitude to the Madeira club for facilitating his departure:

"My thanks to president Rui Alves for the opportunity to coach a historic club like Nacional, as well as for his willingness to release me from my contract. I wish the club every success in achieving its objectives this season. I also want to express my appreciation to everyone I worked with during my time at the club, as well as to all its supporters."

In his managerial career, he has also coached Real and Alverca in Portugal, in Angola and Morocco, and at Kuwait SC, where he spent only one month before taking over Nacional in September, and CS Sfaxien (Tunisia).