The Angola women's national football team represents Angola in international women's football and it is controlled by the Angolan Football Federation. Their best place on the FIFA Rankings was the 82nd place, in December 2003. The only tournaments that they qualified were the 1995 and 2002 African Women's Championships, and their best finish was as Semi-Finalists in the 1995 tournament. Angola has, in contrast to many other African countries, has never suffered a heavy defeat. They have seldom lost by more than two goals.
Angola finished in third place at the African Championship in 1995. Angola also qualified for the Championship in 2002, where they beat Zimbabwe and South Africa, but lost to Cameroon by one goal. Since then, Angola have not qualified for the championships.
During qualification for the 2008 Olympics, Angola did not get any further than the first round, where they lost to Ghana. However, they did reach the final of the COSAFA Cup, where they met South Africa, who beat them 3–1.
History
Beginnings Angola played their first game against South Africa on 7 January 1995, losing 3–1.
African Women's Championship/ Women's Africa Cup of Nations Angola entered the 1995 African Women's Championship, against Cameroon, but it withdrew, thus Angola advanced by walkover and in the Second Round, they played their first official match on the first leg of the Second Round, against South Africa on 7 January 1995; in where they lost by 3–1. The second leg, was a 3–3 draw at home. These results provoked the elimination of Angola due to a 6–4 aggregate, but the Welwitschias ended as Semi-Finalists, along with Ghana.
Angola participated in the 2002 African Women's Championship qualifiers, against Equatorial Guinea. Both legs were won 3–0 and 3–1 respectively. Second Round matches where against Congo DR and First leg was won 1–0 and Second leg was lost also by 1–0, but won in penalties by 5–4 and qualified for the tournament who was held in Nigeria.
This time Angola was along with Zimbabwe, South Africa and Cameroon. The first match was against Zimbabwe and ended on a 1–1 draw with goal of the captain Irene Gonçalves at the 16 minutes. The same result occurred on the Second match against South Africa, but this time with goal of Jacinta Ramos at the 75 minutes. Last match was lost against Cameroon by 1–0 in a late Cameroonian goal at the 89 minutes, leaving Angola out of the tournament and the World Cup.
The Welwitschias played the 2006 African Women's Championship/2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers against Equatorial Guinea in First round, winning 3–2 in the first leg, but losing 3–1 in the second leg, and losing in aggregate by 5–4. Angola did not reach both the 2006 African Women's Championship or the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup who was held in China PR.
Again, the team entered the 2010 African Women's Championship/2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers in the CAF first round against Namibia and lost the First leg 2–1, leading 1–0 in the half-time, with goal of Irene Gonçalves at the 37 minutes. The Second leg was a 1–1 draw, when it was winning 1–0, again with a goal of Irene Gonçalves at the 51 minutes. Angola did not qualify for either both tournaments.
Angola did not enter for the 2014 African Women's Championship/2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers, which was held in Namibia in Autumn 2014.
All-Africa Games Angola entered for the first time to the All-Africa Games Football tournament, in the qualifiers for the 2007 edition in Algeria. Their rival was South Africa. They won the first leg by 3–2 and lost the second by 4–0, ending with an aggregate of 6–3, thus being eliminated from the tournament.
Angola failed to qualify to the 2011 All-Africa Games, celebrated in Mozambique, after losing in aggregate to Zimbabwe by 3–1, after drawing 1–1 and lose 2–0. Also these matches were the last matches that Angola played to the date.
Olympic Games qualifiers The Welwitschias debuted on the Olympic Games football tournament qualifiers in the edition of 2008 edition, celebrated in China PR. Angola's first rival was Tanzania, but it withdrew; thus Angola advanced by walkover. In the Second Round, Angola played against Ghana, losing both matches by 2–1 and 2–0, ending with an aggregate of 4–1.
Despite being one year after the 2011 All-Africa Games, the 2012 Olympic Games Football Tournament qualification of Africa was held 4 months before the 2011 All-Africa Games qualifiers. Angola was paired with Namibia once again in a qualification round. They draw both matches by 2–2 and 0–0 respectively, but they lost due to the Away goals rule. Angola was eliminated of the tournament who took place in Great Britain
COSAFA Women's Championship Angola made their debut in the 2006 edition before hosting the 2008 edition. They have not made it past the group stages in nine edition with their last outing in the 2025 edition.
Team image Home stadium The Angola women's national football team is nicknamed Welwitschias. The name is derived from the Welwitschia mirabilis, a unique plant found in the Namib Desert in southern Angola, which is known for its incredible endurance and ability to survive in harsh conditions.
The team plays their home games at the Estádio Nacional de Ombaka and the Estádio 11 de Novembro.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Legend
2025
2026
Head-to-head record Statistics correct as of 24 February 2026
Opponent Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD 2 0 0 2 1 7 -7 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 1 1 1 7 4 +3 4 3 0 1 10 6 +4 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 4 1 2 1 7 4 +3 4 0 1 3 0 5 -5 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 5 1 3 1 7 5 +2 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 11 2 3 6 13 28 −15 South Africa U20 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 2 2 0 0 6 3 +3 4 0 0 4 1 12 -11 10 3 3 4 10 11 −1 Total 58 17 13 28 75 97 −22
Coaching staff Current coaching staff As of January 2025
Position Name Ref. Head coach Xavier Manuel Da Costa Chapanga
Manager history
Lurdes Lutonda (??–2021) Souza Garcia(2021–2024) Maniho Lóide Feliz(2024–2025) Xavier Manuel Da Costa Chapanga (2026–present
Players
Current squad The following is the squad called up for the 2025 COSAFA .
Recent call-ups The following players have been called up to an Angola squad in the past 12 months.
Previous squads COSAFA Women's Championship 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship squad 2021 COSAFA Women's Championship squad 2022 COSAFA Women's Championship squad 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
Records
Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 24 February 2026.
Most capped players
#PlayerYear(s)Caps
Top goalscorers
#PlayerGoalsCapsYear(s)1Irene Gonçalves332002-20102Jacinta Ramos "Guigui"9 1995-20083Cristina Makua6152020-present4Arminda Lopes " Ary Papel"5172019-present5Sara Luvunga "Prado"410 2020-present5 6 7 8 9 10
Honours African Women's Championship Semi-Finalist: (1) 1995 COSAFA Women's Championship Runners-up: (1) 2008
Competitive record FIFA Women's World Cup FIFA Women's World Cup recordYearResultGPWD*LGFGAGD 1991Did Not Enter 1995Did not qualify 1999Did Not Enter 2003Did not qualify 2007 2011 2015Did Not Enter 2019 2023Did not qualify 2027 2031To be determined 2035To be determinedTotal0/12------- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Olympic Games Summer Olympics recordYearResultMatchesWinsDrawsLossesGFGA 1996Did Not Enter 2000 2004 2008Did not qualify 2012 2016 2021 2024Did not enter 2028 To be continuedTotal0/8000000
Africa Women Cup of Nations Africa Women Cup of Nations recordYearResultMatchesWinsDrawsLossesGFGA1991Did Not Enter1995Semi-finals201146 1998Did Not Enter 2000 2002Group Stage302123 2004Did Not Enter 2006Did not qualify 2008Did Not Enter 2010Did not qualify 2012Did Not Enter 2014 2016 2018 2020Cancelled 2022Did not qualify 2024 2026 TotalSemi Finalist503269
African Games African Games recordYearResultMatchesWinsDrawsLossesGFGA 2003Did Not Enter 2007Did not qualify 2011 2015Did Not Enter 2019See Angola women's national under-20 football team 2023Total0/4000000 2019 and 2023 editions of the football tournament was played by the U-20 team.
COSAFA Women's Championship COSAFA Women's Championship recordYearRound* 2002did not enter 2006 Group stage200214-3 2008 Runners-Up5401131+12 2011 did not enter 2017 2018 2019 Group stage310249-5 2020 Group stage311156−1 2021 Group stage302124−2 2023Group stage310264+2 2024Group stage200216-5 2025Group stage310234-1Total8/1224 8 3 1335 38 -3 *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
See also Sport in Angola Football in Angola Women's football in Angola Angola women's national under-20 football team Angola women's national under-17 football team Angola men's national football team
References
External links
at RSSSF.com at RSSSF.com at RSSSF.com 2007 All Africa Games Results at RSSSF.com
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