As Manuel Jose begins his tenure with Angola's national team, former captain Akwa believes that there can be a turnaround in fortunes for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations hosts.
The Palancas Negras play their first game under Jose on Sunday, a friendly against Guinea.
The Portuguese coach won four African Champions League titles with Egyptian side Al Ahly, and joined Angola last month.
Akwa, who scored the goal that took Angola to the 2006 World Cup finals, says that hopes are high that Jose can help the team put a string of poor results behind them.
"All of Angola's people are waiting for good results, because Jose is a big name in Africa," Akwa told the BBC's African sports programme Fast Track.
"We don't have a lot of time because there are only six months to the Africa Cup."
Akwa is rated as one of his country's greatest-ever players, and is now a member of parliament.
Despite playing at the 2006 World Cup finals, the Palancas Negras exited the 2010 World Cup qualifiers at the first group phase.
They reached the quarter-finals of last year's Africa Cup of Nations but have performed poorly in friendlies in recent months.
But Akwa believes that Angola can still have a good run as 2010 hosts.
"Most important is our first game - if we start well I believe we can go as far as possible," he said.
I wish, I wish, I wish I was playing but now my time already has gone
Akwa
"When you are at this kind of event you want to win. I don't want to put pressure on the players, but I believe inside their hearts they will want to win."
Akwa, now 32, retired after the 2006 World Cup, leaving the likes of Flavio and Manucho to spearhead the strike-force.
But he would have loved to have been on the pitch at Angola's Nations Cup next year.
"I wish, I wish, I wish I was playing but now my time already has gone.
"I chose to continue my life in another way and I will play outside, supporting my friends and colleagues in the national team."
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