Angola will host reigning world champions Argentina in a high-profile friendly football match on May 14, marking the 50th anniversary of the nation’s independence and featuring global superstar Lionel Messi.
The celebratory fixture in Luanda will pit Argentina’s 24-man squad against Angola’s 30-player team. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. local time, which is 4:00 p.m. UTC. The match will be held at the 50,000-capacity Estádio 11 de Novembro.
A significant call-up for Argentina is Gianluca Prestianni, a winger for Portugal’s Benfica, who will join the senior national team for the first time. The 18-year-old previously made an impression at the U-20 World Cup and has played 13 games for Benfica this season, scoring one goal.
World Cup winners Messi and veteran defender Otamendi are also part of the Argentinian squad. Their inclusion elevates the profile of the match as a centerpiece event for Angola’s independence celebrations.
Angolan coach Patrice Beaumelle, a French national, announced his squad, which includes four players from Portuguese clubs. These are defenders Jonathan Buatu from Gil Vicente and Alexandre Abel from Portimonense, along with midfielders Beni Mukendi of Vitória de Guimarães and Domingos Andrade from FC Porto B.
This upcoming game will be only the second encounter between the two nations. Their sole previous meeting was a friendly on May 30, 2006, in Italy, where Argentina defeated Angola 2-0.