Angolavs.Eswatini

The Palancas Negras will back themselves against their cellar-dwelling opponents aiming to notch success to stick close to Cameroon atop Group D.

Match preview

Angola have hitherto avoided losing in World Cup qualifying, but they have been unable to claim maximum points in games against Cape Verde and Mauritius.

The undoubted bugbear has been the absence of goals in those draws, underlining what Pedro Goncalves' team must solve to secure a win for Palancas Negras.

Supporters in Luanda will remind observers both goalless encounters were away from home, believing success against Eswatini is in the offing as they aim to claim three points at the third time of asking.

With Cameroon, Cape Verde and Libya all on four points, notching maximum points against possibly the weakest nation in Group D aids Angola's World Cup prospects.

Goncalves' men could go top joint if they beat Eswatini, Libya draw against Mauritius and Cameroon play out a tie with the Blue Sharks.

While those outcomes may not come to fruition for Palancas Negras, defeating Eswatini will condemn the bottom side to a third consecutive loss to start qualifying.

Beaten by Libya (1-0) and Cape Verde (2-0) in November 2023, Sihlangu Semnikati are yet to find the back of the net after two games and that sequence without scoring could become three on Friday.

A deeper look shows that Eswatini have not won any opposition in World Cup qualifying since defeating Djibouti in a doubleheader in 2015 — 6-0 and 2-1 — with the next six matches in such games ending without a victory.

Perhaps more worrying has been the King Shield's dearth of goals in that period, underscored by netting just once and firing blanks in five matches, pointing to a long-standing bugbear.

Nevertheless, Dominic Kunene's side will hope their hosts finish poorly for the third consecutive game, even if that outcome could be wishful thinking.

Angola World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

D

D

Angola form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

L

D

Eswatini World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

L

L

Eswatini form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

W

D

Team News

Bastos will not add to his 54 appearances for Angola, with Goncalves not including the centre-back in his 28-player squad.

While the Palancas Negras boss got some criticism for inviting just five home-based players, supporters will be pleased to see Mabululu, Gelson Dala and Fredy, three stars from their commendable Africa Cup of Nations run.

Burnley forward Manuel Benson and Cagliari's Zito Luvumbo also offer the home side firepower as they seek to get on the scoresheet in World Cup qualifying.

Justice Figuareido scored in the 3-0 win over Somalia in March, but the forward is missing from Kunene's 20-man group.

Both goalscorers in the reverse fixture of that AFCON qualifying match — Bongwa Matsebula and Sabelo Ndzinisa — are in the squad and they will hope to play significant minutes.

Angola possible starting lineup:

Neblu; Afonso, Gasper, Buatu, Fortuna; Fredy, Show, Estrela; Gilberto, Mabululu, Dala

Eswatini possible starting lineup:

N. Dlamini; Sibandze, Masangane, Manana, Silenge; Matse, Mkhonto, Thwala; S. Dlamini, Ndzinisa, Matsebula

We say: Angola 2-0 Eswatini

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