Argentina: Lionel Messi sparks outrage in Angola

World 14 November 2025 at 07:57

Joshua SOSSOU

News Editor

14.11.25 FT Friendly International

Angola

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Argentina

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In Angola, Lionel Messi has sparked outrage in recent hours as he joins up with the Argentina national team.

This Friday, Argentina faces Angola at 5 p.m. in a friendly match. It’s a prestigious and exceptional fixture for this southern African nation. With all 50,000 seats at the 11 de Novembro stadium snapped up in minutes and ticket resale prices reportedly soaring to twenty times their face value on the black market, this friendly—organized as part of Angola’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations—hasn’t been universally welcomed by Angolans.

Indeed, last summer, when the match had not yet been officially confirmed, several groups of Angolan activists approached the Argentine Football Association (AFA), urging them to reconsider taking part in the game. Their plea followed a crackdown that resulted in the deaths of several dozen Angolan citizens. These activists had hoped to see the reigning world champions pull out, which would have been seen as "a noble gesture of international solidarity and respect for human rights."

But the €12 million promised by Angola to the AFA for staging the match proved decisive. This afternoon, Lionel Messi is even expected to start. Unsurprisingly, according to today’s edition of O Jogo, the event has triggered widespread indignation across the country.

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