Football
Reuters 18y

Soccer-Gilberto likely to miss Angola's World Cup trip

JOHANNESBURG, March 28 - Angolan winger Gilberto
is almost certain to miss the World Cup finals in Germany in
June, Angolan Football federation officials told Reuters on
Tuesday.

The Egyptian-based player suffered an Achilles tendon injury
on the eve of the African Nations Cup finals in Egypt in January
and was taken to Germany for an operation.

Federation vice president Jose Luis Prata said Gilberto's
recovery had been slow and doctors had told the Angolans that
there was little chance he would recover in time for the
tournament in Germany in June, where Angola meet Portugal,
Mexico and Iran in their opening-round group.

The 23-year-old Gilberto, who helped Al Ahli win the African
Champions League last November, was one of Angola's key players
in their surprise qualification, where they edged out favourites
Nigeria to book a place at their first World Cup finals.

Angola have already lost stalwart left back Yamba Asha, the
only player to have competed in all 12 of their qualifying
matches for the 2006 World Cup finals.

In January, FIFA banned Yamba Asha for a drugs offence and
he cannot play again until August. He also missed out on the
African Nations Cup finals because of the ban.

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