The celebrated footballer Lionel Messi has finally succeeded in marking his name on the African continent by scoring a goal during a friendly match against the national team of Angola in Luanda. This took place at the Estádio 11 de Novembro to celebrate the independence of the nation. So, read on to know more about it.
The international match was meant for the purpose of celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the attainment of independence by Angola from Portugal. The squad from Argentina managed to secure a victory with a scoreline of two nil during this — a result that was expected given the significant difference in the world rankings of the two teams. The occurrence of the first goal of the evening was witnessed in the fifty-fourth minute when Messi provided a pass to Lautaro Martínez. This allowed Martínez to finish it by putting the ball past the goalkeeper who was representing the home side.
Furthermore, Messi himself managed to find the back of the net during the sixty-sixth minute of the play. The goal which was scored by the Argentine captain was the result of a powerful shot that flew directly towards the far corner of the net. It is advertised to be his first ever goal on African soil and it brings his total career tally to eight hundred and ninety-six goals. Having said that, the performance was not just about the scoreline but also about the historic nature of the visit. It is claimed that more than fifty thousand fans were present in the stadium to see the celebrated player in action. The supporters in the stands reacted with much excitement as they witnessed him achieve this in their own country.
Other than this, the President of Angola, João Lourenço, honoured the Argentine captain with the presentation of a special trophy before the commencement of the match. In return, the footballer presented his own jersey to the President so as to commemorate the golden jubilee. However, the match was also a stern test for the visitors as the home side displayed great athleticism and pace throughout the ninety minutes. Lionel Scaloni mentioned that the physical strength which was displayed by the opponents provided a good learning experience for his own squad.
The event is reported to have involved a significant appearance fee for the participation of the reigning world champions. Reports suggest that the football federation of the host nation paid a sum of twelve million Euros to ensure this. Furthermore, the match provided a platform for younger players like Kevin Mac Allister to make their debut for the national team. The atmosphere in the capital was very vibrant as fans from across the region travelled to Luanda to catch a glimpse of the stars. It is meant for preparing the teams for their respective upcoming tournaments. The Angolan side used this to get ready for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Do you think the presence of such big teams in Africa will help in improving the quality of football in the region? Let us know in the comments below.
