Luanda - Center back Bastos Quissanga has been ruled out of Angola's senior men's national team ahead of the matches against Libya and Cape Verde for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to injury, the Angolan Football Federation (FAF) announced on Friday.
The influential defender, champion with Brazilian club Botafogo, suffered a knee injury on February 6 and returned to training with the team on Wednesday on a conditional basis, but is not yet fit for the two matches.
Angola will face Libya in Benghazi on March 20 in the 5th round of qualifying, and Cape Verde in Luanda's 11 de Novembro stadium on March 25 in the 6th round.
The FAF statement explains that the professional was released at the request of Botafogo, with the support of the national coach,in order to ensure the full physical recovery of the player.
The World Cup will be held in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
Check out the team called up:
Goalkeepers: Neblú (1.º de Agosto), Dominique (Etoile Carouge of Switzerland) and Nsesani (Sagrada Esperança)
Defenders: Tó Carneiro (FAR Rabat of Morocco), Bastos Quissanga (Botafogo of Brazil - released), David Carmo (Olympiacos of Greece), Clinton Mata (Lyon of France), Pedro Bondo (FC Famalicão of Portugal), Kialonda Gaspar (Lecce of Italy), Sandro Cruz (Gil Vicente of Portugal), Kinito and Hossi (Petro de Luanda)
Midfielders: Fredy (Bodrumspor of Turkey), Benedito Mukendi "Beni" (Vitória Guimarães of Portugal), Maestro (Adana Demirspor of Turkey), Domingos Andrade (FC Porto of Portugal) and Manuel Keliano (Estrela da Amadora of Portugal)
Forwards: Afimico Pululu (Jagiellonia of Poland), André Vidigal (Stoke City of England), Gilberto "Gibelé" (Petro of Luanda), M'Bala Nzola (Lens of France), Mabululu (Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya), Chico Banza (Amateur Star of Portugal), Milson (Red Star of Serbia), Zine Salvador (Levadiakos of Serbia), Manuel Benson (Burnley of England) and Gelson Dala (Al Wakrah SC of Qatar). MC/MRA/AMP
