By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – Angola football national team to face the Eswatini national team, Sihlangu in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifies include relegated English Premier League side Burnley’s forward Manual Benson.
Angola Coach Pedro Goncalves announced 28 players, with only five from the Angolan National Championship (Girabola 2023/24) compared to 23 foreign-based players. Angola hosts Sihlangu on June 7 in Luanda and they will face Cameroon four days later in the qualifiers.
Sihlangu’s Coach Dominic Kunene also announced 26 players for the national duties that will be soon attending a full time camp that is yet to be announced by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA).
Angola training camp begins on the May 27th in Luanda as Angola, currently in fourth place in Group D with 2 points, aims to secure a spot in the World Cup.
According to 777score.com, the 27-old Manuel Benson, who grew up in Belgium, operates as a left winger in the former English Premier League. The Angolan forward scored 14 goals in the last English league season but they were not enough to save them from the axe under former Manchester United defender Vincent Kompany.
Benson has previously played in the Belgian league with Genk, Royal Antwerp, and Lierse, as well as in France with Zowlle.
Another new addition in the squad is Randy Nteka, from Rayo Vallecano in Spain. Also 27 years old, Randy Nteka started his football career in Spain, standing out at Elche (2022-23) and Fuenlabrada from 2017 to 2021.
Angola national team 28 players:
GOALKEEPERS: Adilson Cruz “Neblú” (Primeiro de Agosto), António Dominique (Etoile Courage), Landu Langanga (Sagrada Esperança)
DEFENDERS: Jonathan Buatu (Gil Vicente), Clinton Mata (OL Lyon) David Carmo (Olympiacos) Eddie Afonso (Petro de Luanda)Jonas Ramalho (Al-ahli Manama) Jordi Gaspar ( Pau FC) Kialonda Gaspar( Estrela da Amadora) Nurio Fortuna (KAA Gent) Sandro Cruz ( Desportivo de Chaves)
MIDFILDERS: Alfredo Ribeiro “Freddy”(Eyupspor) António Muanza “Maestro”( Adana Demirspor) Domingos Andrade ( Felgueiras) Manuel Cafumana “Show “(Maccabi Haifa) Marco Silva ( UD Leiria) Pedro Miguel “Megue” (Petro de Luanda) Valdomiro Lameira “Estrela” ( Ezrumspor)
STRIKERS: Cristovão Paciência “Mabululu” (Al-Ittihad) Deivi Miguel “Gilberto” (Petro de Luanda) Felício João “Milson” (Maccabi Tel Aviv) Jacinto “Gelson” Dala (Al Wakrah) Laurindo Aurélio “Depú” (Gil Vicente) Lucas João (Umm-Salal) Manuel Benson (Burnley) Randy Nteka (Rayo Vallecano) Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari)
