Central African Republic (CAR) will face Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification Group E match at Stade de la Reunification in Cameroon on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.
CURRENT FORM
The African Wild Beasts secured a 2-0 win over Madagascar at home on March 27 and the victory extended their unbeaten run to three matches in Group E having - making it two wins in a row in the process.
CAR are placed second on the Group E standings - a point behind leaders, Ghana and a win over Angola would see the African Wild Beasts qualify for the AFCON finals for the first time.
Meanwhile, Angola were held to a 1-1 draw by Ghana at home on March 27 as the Palancas Negras extended their winless run to three matches in Group E - having recorded two draws and one defeat.
The Southern African side is placed third on the Group E standings - three points behind leaders, Ghana and two points behind second-placed CAR. Angola have to beat CAR in order to boost their AFCON qualification hopes.
TEAM NEWS
Louis Mafouta has been included in the latest CAR squad that will face Angola with the Quevilly-Rouen centre forward having grabbed a brace in the win over Madagascar last March.
While former Portugal international Lucas Joao, who was on the score sheet against Ghana last March, is part of the latest Angola squad having netted seven goals for Reading FC this past season.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Central African Republic head coach Raoul Savoy
“There’s no secret but we are working hard for about two years now and step by step we are getting a good team," Savoy said in a press conference.
"When you are working with peace of mind you take your time to do something great. Is just a step. It is left with two games to qualify for the AFCON so you have to be very easy and keep working hard to what will happen in June.
“We drew against Ghana weeks before the World Cup on matchday 2. We are working hard, step by step with young ones. Some players are playing in other African countries so we have people coming from everywhere and we are trying to bring them together and to be one."
Angola head coach Pedro Goncalves
“The perspective of the game is like a final [against CAR] that we are preparing, knowing that the desired result is victory," Goncalves said in a press conference.
"It's an important game for our journey and for us to base all our growth, in the face of a set of adversities that have occurred to us and often do not reach general knowledge. We always try to have positive thinking and find solutions.
"We have to guarantee our qualification with a victory, because, in the end, we want to be in the AFCON finals. There is already a strategic plan for the game."
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Central African Republic and Angola have met three times across all competitions.
Palancas Negras have the upper hand in this rivalry having won two matches compared to African Wild Dogs' one win.
The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 2-1 win in favour of Angola in an AFCON qualifier played in Luanda.