Kaizer Chiefs star Inacio Miguel excluded from Angola’s AFCON squad

Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel will miss both Angola’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign and the clash against Bafana Bafana, the Palancas Negras confirmed.

Despite a preliminary squad of 55 players being announced, Miguel’s name was absent.

The 29-year-old has been a regular at Kaizer Chiefs, featuring in 14 games this season, but opportunities at the national level remain limited.

Miguel last played for Angola in November 2023, appearing for just two minutes against Cape Verde.

Overall, he has earned five caps, with the remainder coming in 2021. He was also part of Angola’s 2023 AFCON squad in Ivory Coast but did not see any playing time.

Angola will open their 2025/26 AFCON campaign against South Africa on 22 December, followed by matches against Zimbabwe and Egypt, meaning Miguel will again watch from the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Miguel and Kaizer Chiefs turn their focus to continental club football. The team hosts Egyptian giants Zamalek at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef acknowledged the challenge ahead, stressing the importance of securing maximum points in home fixtures.

“Zamalek are one of the best teams in Africa with huge experience in continental competition,” Youssef said.

“It will be a tough game, but if we want to qualify, we cannot afford any mistakes at home. We need to win our home matches and collect more points away.”

Kaizer Chiefs will rely on their remaining squad as they aim to balance domestic league form with continental ambitions while Miguel continues to wait for another Angola call-up.