In honour of Angola's 50th Independence anniversary, the President, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço organised a high-profile friendly match between his national team and the Argentine side.

Credible reports indicate that a deal was struck between the Angola government and Argentina delegation to secure Lionel Messi's participation in the match, with the agreement reportedly costing $12 million (KSh 1.5 billion, although some reports claim that after taxes what is left is about $7 million.

This move by the Anglian government has sparked public debate about the financial commitments it took to get Lionel Messi and the Argentine team to play in Luanda. Critics have described it as simply misplaced priority, others have called the government out for misuse of public funds.

It is worth noting that Morocco had earlier reached out to Argentina to see the possibility of a friendly, but got a similar offer which Morocco quickly turned down and this has further fueled questions about Angola's decision to invest such an amount in a friendly match.

THE FINANCIAL OUTLAY AND PRE-MATCH REACTIONS

In every society, regardless of culture, tribe or language—one thing has been known to bring people together—and that's the beautiful game of football.

The Angolan government in their defense, leaned greatly on this belief understanding that one easy way to promote unity on a day as special as their independence would be a football match, but not just any football match—a match against the greatest of all time's national team, Argentina. A match between Angola and Argentina at the national stadium in Luanda, featuring over 50,000 participants would achieve that.

Reputable outlets reports place Angola's Payment for the friendly at approximately $12 million, with some estimates noting that after taxes and logistical needs, the Argentine side would only have $7 million. This high fee was made not just to secure a friendly match between Angola and Argentina but to ensure Messi's participation in the match. The figure also covers travel arrangements, match day coordination, and the rest of the Argentine squad.

The Angolan government has defended this move as an investment in national branding, international visibility and sports diplomacy. For them, securing Lionel Messi in a match in their own stadium was a way to project modernity, attract global attention and boost national pride during such a remarkable celebration.

Civil society groups, influencers and citizens, however, saw things differently. For a lot of citizens, the idea of investing such an insane amount in a friendly brand for the sake of "national branding" was simply something they felt disconnected from the reality of the economic situation of country. Critics questioned why such an amount was readily available to feature Messi and the Argentine squad in a friendly, yet hospitals, education, housing and local football development remain underfunded.

Opposition voices have argued that the match was a classic sense of misplaced priorities and calls out the government for willing to invest heavily in symbolism while structural issues remain unsolved. Many even argue that a nation that couldn't qualify for the World Cup has no business paying such an enormous amount inviting the world cup holders for a friendly.

Before the friendly on November 11, outrages swept across the country.

Through the friends of Angola platform, an open letter was sent to Lionel Messi, the players of the Argentine national football team, the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the technical committee of the Argentine national team—appealing for the cancellation of the scheduled friendly match between the Argentina National Team and the Palancas Negras, set for November 2025 at the 11 de Novembro Stadium in Luanda, as part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence.

In this open letter, it is established that the appeal is not against sport or the bonds of friendship between peoples but rather, a cry of conscience in the face of the painful reality endured by millions of Angolans — a reality that starkly contrasts with the extravagance and millions of dollars spent in organizing this event.

The letter goes on to state "Spending millions of dollars on a sporting event while thousands go hungry, hospitals collapse, and repression intensifies is not a legitimate priority — it is an insult to human dignity."

The opened letter echoes a deep frustration between the Angolan government and the people. The civil societies that signed this letter condemned the expenditure as "wasteful", "extravagant", and "out of touch with social reality". The fact that Morocco faced a similar test and rejected the idea of paying millions to have a friendly with the Argentina national team caused even more backlash. Many ask, if a stronger, more financially stable North African nation rejected such a deal, why would Angola — a country grappling various economic hurdles embrace it?

THE MATCH DAY

Irrespective of the backlash this decision received, the stadium on November 11, was filled with over 50,000 spectators. Tickets were sold at a price of $1 to ensure it was affordable to the average Angolan and the stadium was sold out.

This was the first time Argentina had ever played in Angola, and the spectators couldn't contain the excitement that comes with witnessing the greatest of all time play live—right in front of them. Lionel Messi didn't disappoint assisting Lautaro Martinez with a goal in the first half and scoring his 115th international goal in the 82' minute.

The match ended in a two to nil victory for the Argentine side and throughout the match, Angolan fans cheered Lionel Messi on the pitch and when he was subbed off in the 86th minute, he received a well-deserved standing ovation.

In an interview after the match, Lionel Messi said "Proud to continue representing my country and defending the blue and white."

For the Argentine side, this will be their last friendly of the year, 2025. Their next planned fixture before their World Cup defence next year is the Finalissima game against Euro champions Spain.

For Lionel Messi, the Inter Miami's squad awaits his return in preparation for their match against Cincinnati on November 24 in the Major League Soccer play-offs conference semi-finals.

Angola will now focus on their preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) next month, where they will play South Africa, Zimbabwe and Egypt in the group stages.

The Angola vs. Argentina friendly offered the nation a moment of global attention, giving it's citizens an opportunity to witness the greatest player live in Luanda. Lionel Messi's performance, capped with a goal and an assist, met the expectations that the Angolan crowd was expecting.

However, the match has reignited debates about the priorities of the government at such a time. Ultimately, that match will be remembered by every single individual that got a live seat at that match but questions will ever linger questioning if it was the right move at a time like this.