Messi Costs Angola 12 Million Euros

SadaNews - The announcement by the Angolan Football Federation to allocate 12 million euros for organizing a friendly match between its national team and the world champion Argentina sparked wide controversy in sports and media circles. Many considered that the huge amount overshadows the celebratory nature of the event and raises questions about the priorities of sports spending in the country.

The match is set to take place on November 14 at the "November 11" Stadium in the capital, Luanda, as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Angola's independence.

The Angolan federation confirmed that hosting global stars like Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez represents a "historic event" for local football and a symbolic message during a major national occasion.

Internal Controversy

Despite the expected public enthusiasm to see world champions on Angolan soil, the scale of the spending has drawn widespread criticism.

Analysts believe that the funds could have been directed towards developing sports infrastructure or supporting local clubs, in a country that still faces economic and social challenges.

According to the website "Sport New Africa", the total cost reached about 12 million euros.

While Angolan authorities see the match as an opportunity to showcase the country's image on the international stage, critics insist that "football should not be funded at the expense of more urgent developmental priorities", keeping the anticipated clash between Argentina and Angola as both a sporting event and a subject of national debate.