Angola will aim to extend their near-perfect record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they host Ghana at the Estádio on Friday, 11th November, 2024.
Ghana, on the other hand, travels to Luanda desperate for a win to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive for next year’s continental tournament.
Match Preview
Angola’s impressive performance in the AFCON qualifiers has caught many by surprise.
The Central Africans have breezed through their group, comfortably defeating Ghana and Sudan in their first two matches, and then dispatching Niger with ease in their recent doubleheader.
In their most recent outing on October 15, Pedro Gonçalves’ side triumphed 1-0 over Niger, with Zini’s early first-minute goal proving to be the match-winner in a tightly contested game at the Stade Larbi Zaouli.
This victory marked Angola’s eighth consecutive win across all competitions, and they remain unbeaten in their last 12 matches, with their most recent loss coming in a 1-0 defeat to Morocco in a friendly last March.
Defensively solid, Angola has kept seven clean sheets during this impressive run and scored 21 goals.
They are one of just five teams alongside Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Congo DR still with a perfect record in the AFCON qualifiers.
Sitting at the top of Group F, they hold a five-point lead over second-placed Sudan and a further five points ahead of Ghana in third.
Ghana, who have qualified for each of the last 10 AFCON tournaments, were widely expected to make it through the qualifiers with ease.
However, their campaign has faltered dramatically.
A 1-0 loss to Angola on matchday one set the tone, and they followed that with frustrating draws against Niger and Sudan.
Ghana’s qualification hopes suffered a further blow with a 2-0 defeat to Sudan in their most recent match.
Quickfire goals from Ahmed Al-Tash and Mohamed Abdel Raman condemned the Black Stars to a painful loss in Benghazi, leaving them on the brink of elimination.
For Ghana to remain in the running, they must win their final two qualifiers to have any chance of overtaking Sudan into second place and avoid missing out on the AFCON for the first time since 2004.
Team News:
Angola has called up midfielder Aldair Ferreira for the first time, and he could make his debut in Friday’s match.
Team captain Fredy is nearing his 60th international cap and is set to become only the 11th player in Angola’s history to reach that milestone.
For Ghana, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey headlines a list of key absentees, with Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Ibrahim Osman, and Tariq Lamptey also unavailable.
Osman Bukari has benefited from these absences and returns to the starting lineup, where he will aim to make a significant impact.
Star forward Mohammed Kudus is also set to make his return after serving a suspension that saw him miss West Ham’s last three matches.
The match will kick-off at exactly 7:00pm GMT.
Possible Lineups:
Angola: Neblu; Fortuna, Gaspar, Bastos, Carneiro; Show, Maestro, Fredy; Milson, Mabululu, Luvumbo
Ghana: Ati-Zigi; Mensah, Seidu, Aidoo, Opoku; Sulemana, Kudus, Simpson; Ayew, Fatawu, Paintsil
