Angola Counting Losses After Ksh1.5 Billion Pre-AFCON Friendly Fails to Pay Off in Morocco

Angola exited AFCON 2025 at the group stage and their elimination is stinging harder after they shelled out Ksh1.5 billion for a high-profile friendly before the tournament.

As Tanzania are celebrating their first-ever qualification to the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations, Angola are in pain after watching in agony as their hopes were dashed.

Heading into Tuesday’s matches, Angola were watching Group C with interest as with their two points, they would qualify to the knockout round as the third-best ranked sides, if results went their way.

With Uganda facing Nigeria and Tanzania taking on Tunisia, the match between the Taifa Stars and Carthage Eagles drew more interest as when the North Africans scored, the Angolans were in the game but with Feisal Slum netting an equaliser and the match ending 1-1, the Palancas Negras were out.

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Angola Hosted Argentina Ahead of AFCON

Tanzania nicked the final Round of 16 ticket also with two points, but by virtue of scoring one more goal than Angola, who exited and as they were packing their bags, the impact of their elimination was felt on a much bigger scale given the investment the country put in to prepare the team for AFCON 2025.

Part of Angola’s preparations included a high-profile friendly match against world champions Argentina when Lionel Messi led his teammates on a trip to Luanda to take on their hosts in a pre-AFCON friendly on November 14.

Like every country, Angola believed playing such high-profile friendlies would prepare the team better for AFCON but it seems that was not the case given they ended AFCON 2025 with a 2-1 defeat to South Africa, 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe before a goalless stalemate against Egypt.

However, what is now stinging is the cost of the much-talked about friendly with Argentina, which the South Americans won 2-0 thanks to a Messi goal and assist.

How Much Was Paid to the World Champions?

According to Mundo Deportivo, Angola paid Argentina $12 million (Ksh1.5 billion) to entice them to the match which also served as part of the country’s celebration of 50 years of independence.

That was a colossal amount that divided opinion but which the country felt was necessary to help their team prepare for AFCON but now, they are counting losses.

What is interesting is that the amount was still $2 million shy of what winners of AFCON 2025 will be rewarded as CAF has set aside $10 million prize money for the champions of this year’s tournament.

For their efforts, Angola will take home just $500,000 (Ksh64 million) which is the prize money for teams that exit at the group stage at AFCON 2025.