Argentina faces Angola this Friday, November 14th, at 5 PM, in a match billed as a historic event for the southern African nation, ranked 90th in the FIFA rankings. The 50,000 tickets for the November 11th Stadium in Luanda sold out in minutes, and their resale on the black market reportedly reached prices twenty times higher, according to several accounts.

This sporting event, organized as part of the country's 50th anniversary of independence, was intended to be a festive occasion. However, it has sparked heated controversy among the Angolan population, who face significant economic and social difficulties on a daily basis.

Last summer, even before the match was officially confirmed, several activist groups appealed to the Argentine Football Association (AFA). They urged the AFA to cancel the game to protest what they saw as the systematic repression carried out by the Angolan government during demonstrations—repression that had resulted in the deaths of dozens of citizens. They argued that canceling the match would have been seen as "a noble gesture of international solidarity and respect for human rights."

But the €12 million offered by Angola to the AFA ultimately proved decisive. Lionel Messi, who was expected to start, will indeed be on the pitch in Luanda.

According to O Jogo, the event is now causing genuine outrage in the country. Many Angolans are denouncing the exorbitant expenses incurred: nearly 17 million euros, not including travel, accommodation, and security costs. In a context where a large part of the population lives in poverty, this financial decision is considered an affront.

The Portuguese media even reports that several citizens are considering chanting "we are hungry" during the meeting to express their frustration. However, the chances of such protests materializing are slim. According to the Angolan newspaper Novo Jornal, authorities have already deployed nearly 3,000 security personnel to suppress any attempt at dissent.

An electric atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the festive character intended by the organizers.