Angola Player Profiles

Here’s a player-by-player description of each player on Angola’s roster with some interesting descriptions that are sometimes accurate.

GOALKEEPERS

1-Joao Ricardo (unattached) Born 7.1.70. Caps: 22 Goals: 0.

Born in Angola but left with his family after independence only to be offered an international career for a country he barely knew before his first cap in 1996. His career has been spent at unfashionable Portuguese clubs Academica Viseu, Salgeurios and Moreirense but is now without a contract.

12-Lama (Petro Atletico) Born 1.1.81. Caps: 9 Goals: 0 �

Came up through the Angolan junior sides but has often had to play second fiddle not only for the national team but also at club level. Missed out on the recent African Nations Cup finals because of injury.

22-Mario (InterClube Luanda) Born: 1.6.85 Caps: 0 Goals: 0.

Called into the squad as the number three goalie after a series of impressive performances for his club this season. Unlikely to see any action in Germany however.

DEFENDERS

21-Delgado (Petro Atletico) Born 1.11.79. Caps: 15 Goals: 0

Subject of a failed transfer to Portugal at the start of the season. His lack of size counts against a regular place in the defence but is a possible stand-in for suspended left back Yamba Asha.

3-Jamba (AS Aviacao) Born 10.7.77. Caps: 33 Goals: 0

Baby-faced defender who debuted in the national team aged 21 but did not play for Angola again until five years later. Has competed in all of Angola’s last 27 international matches.

5-Kali (FC Barreirense, Portugal) Born 11.10.78. Caps: 19 Goals: 0

A six-month drugs ban expired late last year, allowing him to play at January’s African Nations Cup finals in Egypt. Luanda-born but brought up in Portugal where most of his football has been restricted to the lower leagues.

4-Antonio Lebo-Lebo (Petro Atletico) Born 29.5.77. Caps: 15 Goals: 0

Scored the goal that gave Sagrada Esperanca their first league title last September but has since moved to Luanda-based Petro Atletico. Played a key role in the vital World Cup qualifying win over Rwanda in Kigali in October.

20-Loco (Primeiro Agosto) Born 25.12.84. Caps: 9 Goals: 0

Debuted as a teenager for the national team in 2003 but is still regarded as a squad player, although he received fine reviews for his performances in the GiraBola league last year at Benfica Luanda. Has since moved to army club Primeiro Agosto.

23-Marco Abreu (Portimonense, Portugal). Born 8.12.1974. Caps: 2 Goals: 0

Brought in as a possible left back replacement for suspended Yamba Asha at the start of the year. Born in Lubango but left Angola as a toddler and has not returned to the country since.

2-Marcos Airosa (FC Barreirense, Portugal) Born 6.8.84. Caps: 1 Goals: 0

Discovered by coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves and tested in a match against Portuguese club opposition in September, where he impressed enough to be taken as a squad member to Rwanda for Angola’s decisive World Cup qualifier in October.

15-Rui Marques (Hull City, England) Born 3.9.77. Caps: 1 Goals: 0

Debuted as a substitute against South Korea in March after many years of rejecting call-ups from Angola. Formerly at Benfica and VfB Stuttgart, but after struggling to get a game at Leeds United in England’s division one was loaned in February to Hull City.

MIDFIELDERS

8-Andre Macanga (Kuwait SC, Kuwait) Born 14.5.78. Caps: 31 Goals: 0.

Defensive midfielder who is slow paced but a hard tackler. Has considerable experience with top Portuguese clubs Vitoria Guimares and Boavista plus spells in Turkey at Gaziantepspor and now in Kuwait.

13-Edson (Pacos Ferreira, Portugal) Born 3.2.80. Caps: 5 Goals: 0.

Among the new discoveries in the Angolan immigrant community in Portugal, making his debut after Angola had qualified for the World Cup finals. In his first season in Portugal’s top flight. �

7-Figueiredo (Varzim, Portugal) Born: 28.11.72. Caps: 20 Goals: 2.

Set-piece specialist for the side, who has emerged from the obscurity of the lower leagues in Portugal into an occasional Angolan captain and folk hero. Formerly with Santa Clara and Dragoes Sandinense.

14-Mendonca (Deportivo Chaves, Portugal) Born 9.10.82. Caps: 32 Goals: 3

Scored within 13 minutes of coming on for his first cap against Malawi in 1999. Played with coach Oliveira Goncalves when Angola’s under-20 side won the 2001 African youth championship.

6-Miloy (InterClube Luanda) Born 27.5.81. Caps: 10 Goals: 0

Has won few caps over the last six years but has proved a handy competitor when called on in the heart of midfield. Played for his club in the 2001 African Cup Winners’ Cup final. �

17-Ze Kalanga (Petro Atletico) Born 12.10.83. Caps: 21 Goals: 4

Came on as a substitute to deliver the cross that led to the goal that secured Angola’s World Cup qualification. Right-sided midfielder with an imposing stature.

FORWARDS

10-Akwa (unattached) Born 30.5.77. Caps: 75 Goals: 35

Arguably Angola’s finest footballer of the last decade, once hailed as the “new Eusebio” at Benfica but he left Portugal without realising his potential. Has since made a personal fortune in the lucrative Qatari league. Has recently left Al Wakrha in Qatar and is looking for a new club.

19-Andre Titi Buengo (Clermont Foot, France) Born 11.2.80. Caps: 1 Goals: 0 �

Raised in France where he has played at seven different clubs in a relatively short career plus also had a spell at Neuchatel Xamax in Switzerland. A squad member at the Nations Cup finals in Egypt in January.

16-Flavio (Al Ahli, Egypt) Born 30.12.79. Caps: 45 Goals: 13

Voted the best player of the African Champions League in 2001 and signed from Petro Atletico by Al Ahli of Egypt last year. He is of small build but very quick and with a deadly finish.

18-Love (AS Aviacao) Born 14.3.79. Caps: 34 Goals: 5

Leading goal-scorer in the Angolan league for the last two seasons, scoring 13 goals in 2005 and 17 the year before. Burly forward but full of pace and with a fine first touch.

9-Mantorras (Benfica, Portugal). Born 18.3.82. Caps: 9 Goals: 3 �

The great hope of Angolan football who dramatically burst on to the scene with Alverca and then Benfica three years ago only to run into a succession of injury problems, stemming originally from a knee cartilage problem. Criticised the coach after being used sparingly at the Nations Cup finals in Egypt in January.

11-Mateus (Gil Vicente, Portugal) Born: 19.6.84 Caps: 2 Goals: 2.

Called into the squad after Maurito had to pull out because of a knee injury. Likely to be used sparingly, if at all, but is a dangerous striker with an eye for goal.