Chiefs star snubbed from Angola AFCON squad, Pirates loanee included | OneFootball

Angola omit Chiefs star from prelim squad, Pirates loanee makes cut

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Angola national team head coach Patrice Beaumelle has snubbed Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel in the preliminary squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Frenchman, who replaced Pedro Gonclaves in October, named a 55-man squad which will be trimmed down to 23 ahead of the continental showpiece in Morocco next month.

Despite opting to include a host of players in the team, there was no room for Inacio, who has been out of the national team fold since joining Chiefs at the beginning of last season.

The 29-year-old stalwart has been an ever-present figure in the heart of the Soweto giants' defense this campaign, helping the team better their defensive woes from last season.

However, his performances in 14 appearances across all competitions this term were not enough to convince Beaumelle to consider recalling him to the national team.

Meanwhile, on-loan Orlando Pirates star, Miguel Devi Viera, popularly known as Gilberto, has been included in the preliminary squad.

The 24-year-old attacker has regained top form since joining former club Petro de Luanda on a season-long loan from the Buccaneers this year in January.

Gilberto's loan deal is set to expire at the end of December and he lifted the Girabola league title and the Super Cup with the Angolan giants.