Wasteful Angola suffered a 0-1 home loss to Libya at Estádio 11 de Novembro to bow out of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification race on Thursday evening.
Forward Ezoo El Mariamy’s second-half goal made the difference for the Aliou Cissé’s men who kept their World Cup dream alive, lying in third place in Group C, five points behind leaders Cape Verde.
Angola are in fourth place with seven points and their maximum points tally of 13 points is not enough.
Angola welcomed Libya in Luanda with both teams aware that only a win would keep their qualification on track.
El Mariamy’s 48th-minute header put Libya in front, thanks to wingback Ali Salama’s delivery into the box where the Al Hilal Benghazi striker went ahead of his marker to head the ball into the net.
Angola threw flesh legs, including Maestro, Zini and M’Bala Nzola, onto the pitch to try and rescue the game as they poured forward.
One of those forward forays saw Red Star Belgrade winger Milson fire a strong low shot, which Libya goalkeeper Al Woheshi handled well.
He reacted quickly to dive to his right and palm the effort away in the 61st minute.
M’Bala Nzola came even closer to getting an equaliser when he fired a low effort towards the goal, but just as was the case in the first half for Angola, his effort bounced off the upright.
The visitors cleared the danger in the 74th minute.
Cisse’s men endured moments of anxiety when goalkeeper Al Woheshi left the pitch injured from his earlier save that denied Nzola.
Youthful Ayman Suleiman Al Tihar came in his place to finish the game between the sticks.
In another result for the group, Cape Verde remained on top of the group after overcoming Mauritania 2-0 to open a four-point gap from second-placed Cameroon going into their home match against Eswatini.
