Match commemorating Angola’s 50 years of independence, which will be attended by Lionel Messi, is criticized by activists in the face of a social crisis
The friendly match between Angola and , scheduled for Friday (14), in Luanda, became a point of tension in the country. The event, part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Angolan independence, is the target of harsh criticism from activists and civil society, who question the transparency and magnitude of public spending in a country facing serious social problems.
The central debate revolves around the amounts invested to bring in the Argentine team, including star Lionel. According to the portal Sport News Africathe total cost of the operation would reach US$32 million. Of this amount, US$12 million would have been allocated just to guarantee Messi’s presence, and another US$13.6 million would have been used to modernize the 11 de Novembro Stadium, the venue for the match.
For critics like Serra Bango, president of the Justice, Peace and Democracy Association, the spending is nonsense given the reality of the population. “We need to draw attention to the suffering that Angolan citizens go through, such as hunger, poverty, unemployment and lack of schools,” he declared. The non-governmental organization Friends of Angola reinforces the argument, pointing out that almost half of the country’s children suffer from malnutrition.
The government, in turn, defends the friendly as a symbolic celebration and an opportunity to project Angola’s image internationally. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Rui Falcão, stated that the interest in the match came from the Argentine team itself, but did not confirm the values conveyed. According to him, the project will count on the “voluntary contribution of some businesspeople”, and the government will be responsible for the costs of accommodation and transport for the visiting delegation.
