By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Civil society organizations in Angola have urged football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to withdraw from a friendly match scheduled for November in Luanda, citing ongoing political repression and worsening social conditions in the country.
The proposed fixture, part of events marking Angola’s 50th independence anniversary, comes amid deadly unrest that has left at least 30 people dead, more than 270 injured, and some 1,500 arrested in recent weeks following fuel price hikes.
In an open letter addressed to the AFA, Argentina’s national team, and Messi’s charitable foundation, four organizations, including Catholic, legal, and pro-democracy groups, accused Angolan authorities of “systematic repression”. They argued that canceling the game would be a powerful act of international solidarity and a show of respect for human rights.
The groups highlighted Angola’s stark inequalities: despite being one of Africa’s top oil producers, nearly one-third of its 38 million people live in poverty, with many struggling with chronic hunger and food insecurity. A recent UN Food and Agriculture Organization report estimated that 22.5% of Angolans are undernourished.
Critics also condemned the government for channeling public funds into major sporting events while ordinary citizens face economic hardship. They said only a narrow elite, mostly linked to the ruling MPLA party, which has held power since independence from Portugal in 1975, benefits from the country’s wealth.
Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami in the US, has not yet responded to the calls.
