Nation in Decisive Match With Kenya

5 June 2011

Luanda — The Angolan national team has gathered the best of its players to face Kenya on Sunday in Luanda, in a game that will be decisive for its future and participation in the African Confederation Football Cup, CAN2012.

Angola lost the first leg match 1-2 in March this year in Nairobi (Kenya), with the opponent’s goal scored four minutes ahead of the end of the game.

Sunday’s game is part of group J of the qualifiers for the final of the CAN2012, with Angola coming fourth and last with three points, same as Guinea-Bissau (third), whereas Kenya has four.

The group is led by Uganda with seven points and stands good chances to reach the final of the CAN2012 that will take place in Gabon and Equatorial Guineea.

Angola will lineup with Carlos (goalkeeper), midfielders Gilberto, Mateus, André Makanga, Marcos Airosa, forwards Manucho Gonçalves and Love, Mingo Bille, Dani Massunguna, Amaro, Miguel and Djalma Campos.

In their common history, Kenya record an advantage as the host only won one (3-1) of the three games played, at Luanda’s Cidadela sports stadium in 2007, in the qualifiers for Ghana’s CAN2008.

In the second leg match, Kenya beat Angola 1-2 in Nairobi.

In March this year, the “Palancas Negras” lost again to the “Harambee Star” by 1-2, in the first leg match qualifying for CAN2012. On the two occasions, Angola’s goal was scored by Manucho Gonçalves.

On the FIFA and CAF ranking, Angola stand better than Kenya, coming 104th with 295 points against the latter (123rd) with 227 points. As to the continental organisation’s ranking,

Angola come 28th with 2,949 points, while Kenya follows in 29th with 2,944 points.

As things stand now, none of the two teams can afford losing, unless they want to put at stake their chance of qualifying for the CAN2012.

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