Argentina vs. Angola: Friendly Match Preview 2025
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, are set to face Angola in a friendly match as they wrap up their 2025 campaign with Lionel Messi leading the team. The match holds significance for Angola as they gear up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Argentina, the 2022 World Cup winners, visiting Luanda. The Argentine squad, under coach Lionel Scaloni, has been training in Spain ahead of this fixture, their only game during the November international break. The match is scheduled to kick off at 11am ET on Friday, November 14, at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, Angola.
As Angola prepares for the upcoming AFCON 2025 in Morocco, this friendly serves as a crucial part of their preparations. The Angolan team boasts attacking threats in Gelson Dala and Mabululu, along with players from Europe's top leagues such as Clinton Mata, Kialonda Gaspar, Randy Nteka, Zito Luvumbo, M'Bala Nzola, and Rui Modesto. Having reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 AFCON, Angola is known for its solid defense and is emerging as a force in African football.
Despite being in the midst of the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs with Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has been called up by Scaloni for this friendly. The Argentine squad features some key players, with Emiliano Martinez, Enzo Fernandez, and Julian Alvarez absent from the lineup. However, they are expected to be part of the World Cup squad next summer. Scaloni will use this opportunity to assess fringe players, including Emiliano Buenia, Nico Paz, Maximo Perrone, and Kevin Mac Allister, who joins his brother Alexis in the Argentina squad. With only a few games left before the 2026 World Cup, Argentina, brimming with talent and confidence, is gearing up to defend their title.
The match between Argentina and Angola promises to be an intriguing encounter, with the defensive-minded Angolan side facing the attacking prowess of Messi and his teammates. Despite Angola's resilience, Argentina is expected to come out on top. The prediction for the match is Angola 0-3 Argentina.