Messi costs Angola 12 million euros sports

The Angolan Football Federation’s announcement of allocating 12 million euros to organize a friendly match between its country’s national team and the world champion Argentina, sparked widespread controversy in sports and media circles, as many considered that the huge amount overshadows the festive nature of the occasion and raises questions about the priorities of sports spending in the country.

The match will be held on November 14 at the “November 11” stadium in the capital, Luanda, as part of the celebrations program for the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence.

The Angolan Federation confirmed that hosting international stars such as Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez represents a “historic event” for local football, and a symbolic message on a major national occasion.

Internal controversy

Despite the expected popular enthusiasm to see the world champions on Angola, the amount of spending sparked widespread criticism.

Analysts believed that the money could have been directed to developing sports infrastructure or supporting local clubs, in a country that still suffers from economic and social challenges.

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

While the Angolan authorities see the match as an opportunity to highlight the country’s image on the international stage, critics insist that “football should not be financed at the expense of more urgent development priorities,” so that the anticipated confrontation between Argentina and Angola remains a sporting event as much as it is an issue of national debate.