Angola’s national team coach, Srdjan Vasiljevic, has announced a 26-player squad in preparation for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt. The group includes several regulars of the Palancas Negras, with key players like Jonathan Buatu, Gelson Dala, Mateus Galiano, and Wilson Eduardo expected to play pivotal roles in Angola’s campaign.
For their preparation, Angola has scheduled a friendly match against Guinea-Bissau on June 10 in Porto, Portugal. This encounter will serve as a final test for the squad before departing for Egypt, where Angola has been drawn into Group E alongside Tunisia, Mali, and Mauritania.
The squad features a blend of domestic and European-based talent, ensuring a mix of experience, skill, and tactical versatility. The goalkeeping department consists of Tony Cabaça (1.º de Agosto), Landu (Interclube de Luanda), and Ndulu (Desportivo da Huíla), providing solid options between the posts.
Defensively, Angola boasts a strong line-up with a combination of local and international experience. Key defenders include Eddie Afonso and Wilson Gaspar from Petro de Luanda, Dani Massunguna, Paizo, and Isaac from 1.º de Agosto, and overseas-based talents like Jonathan Buatu (Rio Ave, Portugal), Clinton da Mata (Club Brugge, Belgium), Bastos Quissanga (Lazio, Italy), Jonas Ramalho (Girona, Spain), and Bruno Gaspar (Sporting, Portugal). This defensive depth gives coach Vasiljevic multiple tactical options to counter diverse playing styles in the tournament.
In midfield, Angola’s squad includes Herenilson do Carmo (Petro de Luanda), Macaia (1.º de Agosto), Show (1.º de Agosto), and Stélvio da Cruz (Dudelange, Luxembourg). These players are expected to provide stability, creativity, and ball distribution in the middle of the park, linking defense with attack and supporting both defensive and offensive transitions.
Angola’s attacking options are equally impressive. Strikers Mabululu (1.º de Agosto), Chico (FC Bravos do Maquis do Moxico), Gelson Dala (Rio Ave, Portugal), Mateus Galiano (Boavista, Portugal), Freddy (Antalyaspor, Turkey), Djalma Campos (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Geraldo (Al Ahly, Egypt), Wilson Eduardo (Sporting de Braga, Portugal), and Jeremie Bela (Albacete, Spain) offer a mix of pace, technical skill, and finishing ability. The presence of players competing in Europe and Africa ensures that Angola has attackers accustomed to high-level competition and varied tactical systems.
With this squad, Angola aims to make an impact at AFCON 2019 and advance beyond the group stage. The team’s preparations, including the upcoming friendly, will be crucial in building cohesion, testing strategies, and finalizing the starting XI. Fans will be particularly focused on key performers like Buatu, Dala, Galiano, and Eduardo, who are expected to lead the team both on and off the field.
As Angola finalizes its preparations in the coming weeks, the Palancas Negras will be looking to combine domestic talent with international experience to compete effectively against Tunisia, Mali, and Mauritania, aiming to leave a mark in Egypt during AFCON 2019.
