SportsMole previews Friday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Angola and Niger, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Flying high Angola They open up a six-point lead in Group F when they host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Niger Friday at the Estadio 11 de Novembro.
Menas, who have failed to win in their last 11 AFCON qualifying matches since November 2020, will look to end the drought at the weekend, ending a run of two defeats in a row against the hosts.
Competition preview
© Imago
Angola made it two wins in Group F of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 2-1 win over a resilient Sudanese side at Estadio 11 de Novembro on 9 September.
Following a goalless first half, the experienced striker Mapululu He broke the deadlock from the spot in the 51st minute Mustafa Karshum After four minutes to Sudan, substitute Randy Ntega In the 81st minute, he handed the hosts all three points.
Earlier, Angola opened the race to qualify for Morocco with a 1-0 win over Ghana on 5 September. Felicio Milson He scored in the third minute of stoppage time to end the Black Stars' 24-year unbeaten run at Kumasi's Baba Yara Stadium.
Pedro GoncalvesThey are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions, picking up seven wins and a draw since a 1-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Morocco on March 22.
These excellent results saw Angola finish fourth in Group D in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and win the 2024 COSAFA Cup in July, where they beat Namibia 5–0 in Nelson Mandela Bay to reach the final. Arena.
Angola will be backing themselves to make it seven wins this weekend, having conceded five goals and scored twice since June 2008, losing in each of their previous two meetings.
Niger, on the other hand, failed to secure a first win in their quest for an AFCON appearance since 2012 and could only manage a 1-1 draw against Ghana in Bergen.
Defender of the State Rennais By doing Alidu He opened his international account on the stroke of half-time to put the Black Stars in front at the Stade Municipal de Bergen. Umar Bro Forced a role in the attack in the 81st minute.
Before that, Niger were denied a dream start to the 2025 AFCON qualifiers as they lost 1-0 at the Juba Stadium to a 51st-minute effort against Sudan. Abo Isa.
The exception was a 2-1 win over Zambia in November 2026 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier – Menas have now failed to win nine of their last 10 competitive matches – losing eight and drawing one.
Head coach Jackie Badu The September result against Ghana will hopefully be a turning point since a 1-0 win over Ethiopia in November 2020, having failed to win in their last 11 AFCON qualifiers, losing seven and drawing four.
Angola Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Form:
Angola Form (All Matches):
Niger Africa Cup of Nations Qualification:
Niger Form (All Matches):
Group messages
© Imago
Angola have announced a 25-man squad for the October qualifiers, including the likes of Zito Luvumbo and Gil Vicente man. Jonathan Booth and Red Star Belgrade striker Milsen.
Fast forward twenty-eight years Kelson Dala He has scored 20 goals in 48 caps since his debut in June 2015.
Mrs. Clinton Casa Bia has withdrawn from the team after sustaining an injury while playing as a goalkeeper Ricardo BautistaThe only new face in the Angola camp is looking forward to his debut.
Meanwhile, Niger called up 25 players for the double-header in October, with Badou sticking with most of the players called up during September's international break.
We expect to see a similar side that started the game against Ghana last time Najeeb YakubuBrother Umar, Alhabib Hasan Abd And Abdel Rahim Alhassan Back on the defense.
Yusif Moussa, Usman diabetes And the captain Yusuf Omaroo 26 to retain their roles in the center of the park Baupakar Hainikoye And Kryvbas Striker Daniel Sousa To lead the attack.
Angola Probable Starting Lineup:
Nebuchadnezzar; Bastos, Kay Casper, Garmo, Puatu; Milson, Freddie, show; Tala, mapululu, sea
Niger Probable Starting Lineup:
Hainikoye, Jacob, Sako, Abdu, Alhassan; Moussa, Diabate, Oumarou; Mower, Hainikoye, Sosa
We say: Angola 2-1 Niger
Angola are currently firing on all cylinders and will need to maintain their good results against Niger, who set out in search of their first win in the qualifiers.
Despite being underdogs, Mena did well to pick up a point against Ghana last time out, but we predict they will struggle at the Estadio 11 de Novembro this weekend.
Please click here for data analysis of most probable results, scores and more for this match.
