Hit by Beni Mukendi’s injury, Angola head coach Aliou Cissé has urgently called up midfielders Domingos Andrade and Axel Sousa for the double-header against South Sudan, starting with Tuesday’s match in Luanda.
Angola have to cope with a last-minute withdrawal. Midfielder Beni Mukendi, a regular feature of Aliou Cissé’s tactical options, has been ruled out through injury, the Angolan daily O País reports. To make up for his absence, the coach called up two reinforcements on Monday: Domingos Andrade, who plays for Botafogo in Brazil, and Axel Sousa, a 1.º de Agosto player.
The call-ups come on the eve of an important match for the Palancas Negras in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The two called-up players ply their trade at different levels, one abroad and the other in the domestic league.
Mukendi out, Angola reshuffle
According to O País, Beni Mukendi’s injury deprives Angola of a regular feature of Aliou Cissé’s tactical options. The head coach must therefore compensate for his absence in midfield.
Domingos Andrade, who wears the colours of Botafogo in Brazil, and Axel Sousa, a 1.º de Agosto player, are set to join the squad on the eve of the match. The first plays outside the continent, the second in the Angolan league: two different paths for the same answer to Mukendi’s absence.
A Group B level with Egypt
On the numbers, Angola have 4 points from two matchdays and share top spot in Group B with Egypt, according to footballdatabase.eu. The double-header against South Sudan is part of these 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Tuesday’s match, on matchday three, should allow Aliou Cissé’s men to consolidate that position before the return leg.
South Sudan, for their part, have lost their last three away matches in AFCON qualifying, according to the same source. The Palancas Negras have played only two matches in this group.
Cissé already knows his opponent
Aliou Cissé has already faced South Sudan from the bench: on 18 November 2023, he beat them 1-0, according to footballdatabase.eu. A favourable precedent, ahead of a match to be played on Tuesday at the Estadio da Cidadela in Luanda.
The match gives Angola the chance to take sole leadership of the group, provided they win at home. The return leg against South Sudan will complete this double-header, with no date announced at this stage.