Argentina Faces Angola in Final Friendly Before World Cup Preparations

Luanda, Angola – The reigning World Cup champions, Argentina, are set to face Angola in a friendly match this Friday, November 14, 2025. This game marks Argentina’s final outing of the calendar year, with Lionel Messi captaining the team during their preparations for the upcoming world tournament.

Argentina has selected a strong lineup for the friendly, which takes place at the Estadio 11 de Novembro. Coach Lionel Scaloni has been working closely with the squad during training in Spain, as this is their only match during the November international break. The match kicks off at 11 a.m. ET.

For Angola, this friendly represents a critical warm-up ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Angolan team, known as the Black Sable Antelopes, features key players like Gelson Dala and Mabululu, as well as several European league players including Clinton Mata and M’Bala Nzola. Angola recently reached the quarterfinals in the 2023 AFCON and hope to build on their experience against Argentina.

Despite some key absences—most notably Emiliano Martínez, Enzo Fernandez, and Julián Álvarez—Argentina’s roster still boasts considerable talent. Scaloni has called up fringe players including Emiliano Buendía, as well as Como youngsters Nico Paz and Maximo Perrone. The presence of Messi, who will be making his 187th appearance for the national team, ensures that the side remains formidable.

The prior encounter between the two nations occurred in 2006, in which Argentina won 2-0 with Messi making an appearance as a substitute. Angola’s recent performance has been a mix of draws against Cameroon and Eswatini, but they have not claimed a victory against Argentina historically and will have to overcome a challenging matchup.

As they meet again, questions arise about whether Angola can hold their ground against the world champions, given Argentina’s strong form after friendly victories against Venezuela and Puerto Rico last month. Based on their previous meetings and current standings, the expectation is for Argentina to secure a convincing win.

This friendly will serve as a vital test for both teams, with Argentina eyeing further momentum heading into the 2026 World Cup preparations. The outcome could provide key insights into both teams’ capabilities as they approach major tournament play.