The dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup is over for Angola’s national football team. On Thursday, they suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Libya. El Mariamy scored the crucial goal for Libya just two minutes into the second half, at the 47-minute mark. This loss extinguished any remaining hope for Angola to qualify for the global tournament.
Angola, guided by Portuguese coach Pedro Gonçalves, found themselves in a familiar struggle. Despite controlling much of the game, the team showed clear weaknesses. Their defense seemed open, and their attacks lacked a sharp finishing touch. This was especially frustrating given how much possession they had.
This recent setback marks Angola’s second loss in their World Cup qualification group. The Palancas Negras, as the team is known, now sit in fourth place in Group D. They have seven points, four fewer than their Libyan opponents, who currently hold third place.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde is making strong progress at the top of the group standings. On Thursday, they secured a convincing 2-0 victory away against Mauritius. That win has put Cape Verde very close to sealing their qualification, with just three more matchdays left to play.
Angola will return to action on Tuesday, playing another home game. They are set to host Mauritius, who are currently in fifth place with five points. It will be another chance for the Palancas Negras to find some winning form.
Cape Verde leads Group D with an impressive 16 points. That’s four points ahead of Cameroon. Cameroon is still scheduled to play Eswatini today, who currently sit at the very bottom of the group.