Overview
Angola are preparing to enter their first match since the disappointing end of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a 0-0 draw against Cameroon.
In 10 qualifying matches, they have won only 2, drawn 6 and lost 2, thereby finishing in 4th place in Group D. This achievement puts Angola 7 points behind the second-placed team and 11 points behind the Cape Verde leader.
That also means they will have to wait at least until 2030 to nurture their hopes of returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2006 in Germany.
For now, Angola's goal is to regain confidence in two important friendly matches against Argentina and Guinea-Bissau, ahead of the African Football Cup taking place next month.
The team that reached the quarter-finals of the AFCON 2023 will open this year's campaign with a match against South Africa on December 22, then face Zimbabwe and Egypt in the group stage.
Before the match against Argentina, Angola is maintaining a 3-match unbeaten streak (1 win, 2 draws). Notably, they have had 2 consecutive draws in the first 2 matches under coach Patrice Beaumelle, thereby showing positive signals of stability and improvement in playing style.
Meanwhile, Argentina will aim to defend their 2026 World Cup title after qualifying well in South America. Under the leadership of Lionel Scaloni, they have won 12, drawn 2 and lost 4 after 18 matches, thereby finishing the qualifying round in the No. 1 position, 9 points ahead of the second-placed team Ecuador.
This gap could have been even bigger if Argentina had not surprisingly lost 0-1 at Ecuador in the final match. However, the reigning world champions quickly returned to form in the international series in October, when they beat Venezuela 1-0 and then Puerto Rico 6-0.
In this match, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez each scored twice, in addition to Gonzalo Montiel's goal and an own goal.
According to the original schedule, Argentina will meet Australia in addition to the friendly match with Angola, but the confrontation with the Atlantic team has been postponed and is likely to be postponed to 2026. Therefore, the encounter with Angola will be the last match of Scaloni and his team this year.
Impressive form with 7 wins in 9 matches in 2025 helps Argentina feel completely confident towards a positive result in the Angola reunion. This was the first meeting between the two sides since 2006, when Maxi Rodriguez and Juan Pablo Sorin scored to bring Argentina a 2-0 victory.
Personnel situation
Angola goalkeeper Neblu is likely to be given priority over Hugo Marques in this match. In defense, the African team can arrange the Quartet Clinton Mata, David Carmo, Whyonda Gaspar and To Carneiro to defend the goal.
On the Argentina side, Nahuel Molina, Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone have withdrawn from the national team due to not completing the mandatory fever vaccination procedures when entering Angola. Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is also absent due to a knee injury.
In compensation, Scaloni has called up Emiliano Buendia ( Aston Villa), Leandro Paredes (Boca juniors) and Kevin Mac Allister (Union Saint-Gilloise) - Alexis Mac Allister's brother.
Captain Lionel Messi is expected to start, while Argentina's goal could be defended by Geronimo Rulli.
Expected lineup:
Angola: Neblu, Mata, Carmo, Gaspar, Carneiro, Fredy, Beni, Luvumbo, Benson, Milson, Mabulu.
Argentina: Rulli, Foyth, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Paz, Mac Allister, Lo Celso, Almada, Messi, Martinez.
The match between Angola and Argentina takes place at 23:00 on November 14 (Vietnam time).
