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Eighty-eight days have passed since Ghana’s impressive victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The anticipation is building up for a continuation of those back-to-back wins as the Black Stars prepare for two crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The journey toward securing an 11th AFCON qualification begins on Thursday, September 5, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, where Ghana will face Angola.
The Palancas Negras have surged in recent years, with their quarter-final finish at the 2023 AFCON and COSAFA Cup victory – their first since 2004, serving as palpable testimonies.
Angola’s current form and goal scoring prowess
| Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Goals for | Against |
| 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 10 |
While Angola looks good in front of goal, they leak at the back
Pedro Gonçalves’ boys have been in devastating form recently, winning 60% of their last 15 matches across all competitions. This surge in performance is a stark contrast to their previous 15 games, where they managed a win rate of just 20%.
Their recent performances include a strong showing at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they secured three victories and suffered only one loss – to finalists, Nigeria. With nine goals in five matches, averaging 1.8 goals per game, Angola emerged as one of the highest-scoring teams in the Ivory Coast tournament, surpassing countries like Mali, DR Congo, Egypt, and Morocco.
The Angolans didn’t stop there. They won their last four matches, including a dominant display against Namibia, where they scored five goals to clinch the COSAFA Cup.
“AFCON is a very important competition and we have seen our growth with the national team that revealed our performance in the last edition. Therefore, within our reach and with our resources, we will do everything to excel and be present in Morocco in 2025,” said Angola head coach Pedro Gonçalves.
They score all manner of goals, including long-range strikes, and solo efforts, but their biggest strength is in dead ball situations. With Angola proving hard to beat and scoring for fun, Ghana’s defense will need to be at its very best to contain their firepower.
Who are Angola’s danger men?
Angola will rely heavily on the lethal marksmanship of forward Mabululu, a force who has been nothing short of prolific for both club and country. With 41 goals in 83 games, including 16 goals last season for Al Ittihad Alexandria Club, Mabululu claimed the 2023/24 Egyptian Premier League Golden Boot.
Mabululu joined Libyan giants Ahli Tripoli in the just ended summer transfer window in a club record deal worth €1.35 million. At 32, he remains a potent threat, having found the back of the net three times at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast. His physical presence and efficiency are ominous signs for Ghana’s defence. But the forward isn’t the only possible tormentor.
The ever-influential Gelson Dala, Angola’s talismanic attacking midfielder, who was pivotal in their quarter-final run at the last AFCON, continues to shine. With a goal and an assist already in three matches for his club, Al-Wakrah in Qatar, Dala is primed to torment once more.
Striker Depú is expected to play a pivotal role in the game, having emerged as the top scorer of the COSAFA Cup with five goals, while midfielder Maestro, the Best Player of the Tournament, will look to command the midfield with his trademark ingenuity.
Where are Angola vulnerable?
“To begin with Angola, I think they have a very, very good squad. It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be close but like I said, I have strong belief that we can succeed against them,” said Black Stars coach Otto Addo who is acknowledging the quality of Angola, yet he remains confident in Ghana’s ability to emerge victorious in the tie.
While Angola’s firepower is discernible, so too is their vulnerability in defence – a flaw Ghana could exploit.
Despite winning their last four matches to clinch the COSAFA Cup, Angola’s defense has shown cracks, conceding four goals and managing just one clean sheet in the process. At the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, their backline leaked four goals in five games.
Broadening the scope to their last 15 matches, Angola conceded 10 goals and failed to keep a clean sheet against any team ranked in Africa’s top 13.
With such a generous defense and considering that the Black Stars netted six goals in just two matches against Mali and CAR, Otto Addo’s charges will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing such a backline.
Credit: myjoyonline.com
