Lionel Messi and the world champion Argentina soccer team are set to be special guests as Angola marks the 50th anniversary of its independence from Portugal.

The southern African nation declared independence on November 11, 1975, but soon plunged into a civil war that lasted until 2002, claiming between 500,000 and 1 million lives.

The week-long celebrations began on Wednesday with a ceremony at Republic Square in Luanda, where soldiers raised a giant Angolan flag in front of President João Lourenço. Angola, an oil-rich nation governed by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola since independence, has also organised a high-profile exhibition match between its national team and Argentina on Friday at the 11 November Stadium, for KSh 1.68 billion to attract the World Cup holders.

Argentina’s squad is expected to arrive in Angola on Thursday. However, the team will be without the Atletico Madrid trio Julian Alvarez, Nahuel Molina, and Giuliano Simeone for the friendly, after they failed to complete the required procedures linked to the yellow fever vaccine.

Yellow fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease found in parts of Africa and South America, requires travellers to certain regions to be vaccinated before entry.

“The players did not complete in time the health procedures related to the yellow fever vaccine, which is required to enter Angola,” the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said in a statement.

World champions Argentina, who have already secured their spot at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will use the friendly as preparation ahead of next year’s tournament.

The exhibition in Luanda is expected to draw large crowds, with fans eager to see Messi and his teammates in action while joining the country’s historic celebrations.