In the second of two consecutive meetings between the teams four days apart, Angola welcome Ghana to Estadio de 11 Novembro for their fourth AFCON qualifier on Monday.
The hosts will be looking to exact revenge on their visitors following a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi last time out.
Despite being on the front foot for large spells of the contest, Ghana left it late in their matchday-three clash against Angola on Thursday evening.
Antoine Semenyo was the hero of the occasion as he came off the bench to score a 96th-minute winner and hand Chris Hughton a winning start to life at the helm of affairs.
Picking up seven points from a possible nine, the Black Stars have opened up a three-point lead at the top of Group E midway through the qualifying campaign.
They will now aim to continue their near-perfect record against an opposing outfit who have been beaten in two of the previous three encounters between the sides.
Potentially three points away from securing a place at next year’s AFCON, Monday’s visitors now set out to complete their major objective with two games left to spare.
With little time to dwell on their disappointing defeat last time out, Angola must now pick themselves up and deliver another solid performance against Ghana.
Prior to Semenyo’s winner in Kumasi, Pedro Goncalves’s men repelled everything that was thrown at them and nearly delivered a sucker punch at the other end.
Suffering only just a second loss in 13 matches across all competitions, the Black Antelopes will be eager to avoid being beaten in consecutive matches for the first time in over two years.
Currently without a defeat on their own patch since a World Cup qualifier against Libya in 2021, Monday’s hosts have become a huge force to reckon with in front of their fans.
Angola Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:
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Angola form (all competitions):
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Ghana Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:
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Ghana form (all competitions):
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Team News
Alexander Djiku was forced off with an injury scare in Ghana’s last involvement, and the defender is currently a major doubt for Monday’s contest.
As a result, Joseph Aidoo could be handed a place in the starting lineup here after coming on for Djiku in the final knockings of the aforementioned game.
Having recently opened his international account at the sixth time of asking, Antoine Semenyo will be aiming to come up with the goods once again.
Ary Papel has made 49 appearances for Angola, and his next game would see him join a handful of players to have racked up half a century of caps.
Midfielder Show lasted only just 33 minutes last time out before coming off with a knock, but he is expected to be fit in time to feature for the away side.
Angola possible starting lineup:
Cipriano; Carneiro, Mananga, Gaspar, Ndefe; Show, Fredy; Papel Ary, Gelson, Costa; Nzola
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Ati-Zigi; Mensah, Aidoo, Amartey, Odoi; Partey, Addo; Ayew, Kudus, Sulemana; Williams
Prediction
We say: Angola 1-1 Ghana or 1.5
There was little to choose between Angola and Ghana last time out, and another tight affair is on the cards here. We are anticipating an open and entertaining affair with the teams nullifying each other, giving rise to a share of the spoils at the end of the 90 minutes.
