Reuters, Angola
Angola winger Gilberto is almost certain to miss the FIFA 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 CAF 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 FIFA 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.