4 Angolan Players Capable of Breaking Ghanaian Hearts

The Black Stars of Ghana will play Angola in AFCON 2023 doubleheader with the first game coming off in Kumasi on March 23 and the reverse fixture in Luanda on March 27. Angola manager Pedro Goncalves has named a strong 26-man squad to face the Black Stars.

The list includes players capable of causing real problems for a Ghana side who are only just getting themselves going with a new manager.

Here's kickgh.com's run-through of who to keep an eye on on Thursday.

M’bala Nzola 

M’bala Nzola is a distinctive figure on any football pitch. His athletic frame – upright in posture, defined in shape, rangy in length – is his distinguishing feature. Not only does it differentiate, it disrupts and dominates too. Athleticism is the one truly extraordinary attribute that the striker boasts, and it is difficult to overstate just how effective it is in Italy. The Spezia Calcio centre-forward has been immense for his side this campaign. He has netted 12 times, registered 2 assists in 22 appearances for his club. The Excellent acceleration and sprinting speed are the defining facet of his athletic skillset. 

The 26-year-old has featured five time for the Palancras Negras and has scored two goals.

Agostinho Paciencia

Nicknamed Mabululu, the Ittihad Alexandria forward is capable of wreaking havoc against the Black Stars. Paciencia has always been a mature athlete, and his athletic profile provides a high floor for his skillset.

Not only is he quite tall and lean, he has a great burst and top-end speed to match, making him a very dynamic forward. He’s also added muscle to his physique as he’s grown. All in all, Paciencia is a multi-faceted athlete.

He doesn’t offer much in terms of a passing threat, but he gets into good positions inside the box off dribbles and movement – that’s his primary quality. He has also improved as a finisher, making more of the areas he gets into.

He has scored 9 goals, registered 1 assist in 20 games for the Egyptian outfit. He has scored 4 goals in 9 appearances for Angola.

Jacinto Muondo Dala

This guy is going to be the subject of many post -match discussions at pubs and football gatherings if his form going into the game is anything to go by. Gelson, as he is affectionately known in Angola has been a vital component of the Angolan side since he made his debut. He has scored 14 goals in 32 games for his nation.

He has impressed this for Al -Wakra SC scoring 10 goals, 2 assists in 13 games. Dala can play as a No. 9, drop in behind a striker or roam, which will be extremely useful to Goncalves. The 26-year-old striker is great in the air and a major threat on set pieces.

Helder Costa

The 29-year-old is the team’s clear star. With a mix of deft passing ability and technical attacking acumen, Costa is an incredible talent on the flanks. Costa is adept off both flanks, with is doggedly dribbling and fierce ball striking rendering him a dual threat wide man. He can beat a marker on the inside and out with aplomb.

Costa is a relentless winger who often creates chances for himself thanks to his work rate and defensive effort. He’s so direct in possession and excels in Goncalves’ transition-heavy system. He is brilliant when he’s given space to attack, but he also boasts the technique to combine and create in tight spaces.