Shirt badge/Association crest | ||||
Nickname(s) | Palancas Negras (Black Sable antelopes) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Association | Federação Angolana de Futebol (FAF) | |||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
Sub-confederation | COSAFA (Southern Africa) | |||
Head coach | Pedro Gonçalves | |||
Captain | Djalma Campos | |||
Most caps | Flávio (91) | |||
Top scorer | Akwá (39) | |||
Home stadium | Estádio 11 de Novembro | |||
FIFA code | ANG | |||
| ||||
FIFA ranking | ||||
Current | 92 ![]() | |||
Highest | 45 (July 2000) | |||
Lowest | 147 (March 2017) | |||
First international | ||||
![]() ![]() (Brazzaville, Congo; 8 February 1976) | ||||
Biggest win | ||||
![]() ![]() (Luanda, Angola; 23 April 2000) | ||||
Biggest defeat | ||||
![]() ![]() (Lisbon, Portugal; 23 March 1989) | ||||
World Cup | ||||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2006) | |||
Best result | Group stage (2006) | |||
Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
Appearances | 8 (first in 1996) | |||
Best result | Quarter-finals (2008, 2010) | |||
African Nations Championship | ||||
Appearances | 3 (first in 2011) | |||
Best result | Runners-up (2011) | |||
COSAFA Cup | ||||
Appearances | 16 (first in 1998) | |||
Best result | Champions (1999, 2001, 2004) | |||
Website | faf.co.ao |
The Angola national football team (Portuguese: Seleção nacional de futebol de Angola) represents Angola in men's international football and is controlled by the Angolan Football Federation. Nicknames Palancas Negras (Black Sable antelopes), the team is a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Angola reached its highest FIFA ranking of 45th in July 2000. Their greatest accomplishment was qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, their only World Cup to date.
Angola played their first game against Congo on 8 February 1976, losing 3–2. On 26 June 1977, Cuba became Angola's first non-African opponent when the two countries met in Angola, with Angola winning 1–0.[3] Angola entered World Cup qualifying for the first time in the 1986 qualifying competition. Angola defeated Senegal on penalties in the first round before narrowly losing to Algeria 3–2 on aggregate in the second round.
Angola qualified for their first Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. They were drawn in Group A with South Africa, Egypt and Cameroon. They lost their first two games to Egypt and South Africa, but managed a 3–3 draw against Cameroon. They finished bottom of the group and did not reach the second round. Angola then qualified for their second successive African Cup of Nations in 1998, but again failed to reach the second round, drawing 0–0 with South Africa and 3–3 with Namibia, and losing 5–2 to Ivory Coast.
After missing the last 3 tournaments, they qualified for the 2006 African Nations Cup. They recorded their first African Cup of Nations win against Togo, winning 3–2, two goals coming from Flávio and the other coming from Maurito. They also drew 0–0 against Congo DR and lost 3–1 against Cameroon. Angola's best performance then came in the 2008 African Nations Cup. They were drawn in Group D with Tunisia, South Africa and Senegal. They drew 1–1 and 0–0 with South Africa and Tunisia, then defeated Senegal 3–1, two goals coming from Manucho. In the quarter-finals they were beaten by eventual winners Egypt 2–1, but Manucho scored again, finishing with four goals in total.
Angola also won the COSAFA Cup in 1999, 2001 and 2004.[4]
Angola qualified for the 2006 World Cup after only losing one game in the qualifiers ahead of favourites Nigeria.
When picking the squad, Gonçalves sought advice from Chelsea manager José Mourinho, whose wife was born in Angola. Angola's Golden Generation saw players like Akwá, João Ricardo, Paulo Figueiredo, Flávio Amado and Jamba selected to go to the World Cup. Angola played six warm-up games against South Korea, Mauritius, Lesotho, Argentina, Turkey and USA.
Angola played their first World Cup finals game against the Portuguese side, who won the match 1–0, the only goal coming from Pauleta.[5] There was a very friendly environment in and around the stadium during this match because of the links and friendship between the countries of Angola and Portugal. Angola drew 0–0 in their second game with Mexico, and still had a chance of qualifying for the second round had they beaten Iran in their final group game, but the match finished 1–1 after goals by Flávio and Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh. Angola were eliminated from the tournament only losing one game.[6][7]
After the 2006 World Cup, many of Angola's most experienced players such as Akwá and João Ricardo retired from the international game, but the expectation was still high for the team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The team had a bye through the first round of qualification and in the second round they were drawn in Group 3 along with Benin, Uganda and Niger. Despite winning their first two matches, Angola failed to proceed to the third round, missing out by two points.
As hosts of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, Angola were seeded in Group A along with Mali, Algeria, and Malawi. Coached by Manuel José, in their first game they drew 4–4 with Mali, after letting a 4–0 lead slip in the last 11 minutes (including three goals in stoppage time). They recovered from this by beating Malawi 2–0 in the second match, and topped the group by drawing 0–0 with Algeria. They were knocked out in the quarter final after a 1–0 defeat by eventual finalists Ghana.
Kit providers | Period |
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1994–1998 |
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1998–2002 |
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2002–2006 |
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2006–2012 |
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2012–2018 |
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2018–2019 |
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2019–2024 |
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2024– |
Main article: Angola national football team results (2020–present) |
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
17 November Friendly | Angola ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Johannesburg, South Africa |
|
Report1 Report2 |
Stadium: Dobsonville Stadium |
20 November Friendly | South Africa ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Mbombela, South Africa |
14:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Mbombela Stadium |
23 March 2023 AFCON qualification | Ghana ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Kumasi, Ghana |
17:00 UTC±0 |
|
Report | Stadium: Baba Yara Stadium Referee: Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo) |
27 March 2023 AFCON qualification | Angola ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Luanda, Angola |
17:00 UTC+1 | Report |
|
Stadium: Estádio 11 de Novembro Referee: Mohamed Maarouf (Egypt) |
17 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Central African Republic ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Douala, Cameroon |
15:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade de la Réunification Referee: Redouane Jiyed (Moroccan) |
7 July 2023 COSAFA Cup | Mozambique ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Durban |
18:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium |
10 July 2023 COSAFA Cup | Angola ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | KwaMashu |
15:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Princess Magogo Stadium |
12 July 2023 COSAFA Cup | Angola ![]() | 4–2 | ![]() | Durban |
15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Chatsworth Stadium |
7 September 2023 AFCON qualification | Angola ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Lubango, Angola |
15:00 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: Estádio Nacional da Tundavala |
November 2026 World Cup qualification | Cape Verde ![]() | v | ![]() |
November 2026 World Cup qualification | Mauritius ![]() | v | ![]() |
The following players have been selected for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Madagascar on 7 September 2023 and the friendly against Iran on 12 September 2023.[8]
Caps and goals as of 12 September 2023, after the match against Iran. [9]
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Neblú | 7 December 1993 | 13 | 0 | ![]() | |
GK | Kadú | 30 November 1994 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | |
GK | Gelson Francisco Pedro Mangala | 8 July 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Jonathan Buatu | 27 September 1993 | 33 | 1 | ![]() | |
DF | Eddie Afonso | 7 March 1994 | 20 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Tó | 5 November 1995 | 19 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Kialonda Gaspar | 27 September 1997 | 17 | 1 | ![]() | |
DF | Núrio Fortuna | 24 March 1995 | 10 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Antonio Hossi | 12 June 2001 | 8 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Quinito | 13 March 1998 | 8 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Venâncio Kukula | 11 June 1995 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Fredy | 27 March 1990 | 41 | 2 | ![]() | |
MF | Estrela | 22 September 1995 | 12 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Megue | 2 December 1996 | 8 | 2 | ![]() | |
MF | Beni Mukendi | 21 May 2002 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Bruno Paz | 23 April 1998 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Manuel Keliano | 6 January 2003 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Rui Modesto | 7 September 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Gelson Dala | 13 July 1996 | 35 | 14 | ![]() | |
FW | Mabululu | 10 September 1989 | 19 | 6 | ![]() | |
FW | Hélder Costa | 12 January 1994 | 10 | 1 | ![]() | |
FW | Zini | 3 July 2002 | 10 | 4 | ![]() | |
FW | Zito Luvumbo | 9 March 2002 | 8 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Chico Banza | 17 December 1998 | 4 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Lucas João | 4 September 1993 | 4 | 1 | ![]() | |
FW | Felício Milson | 12 October 1999 | 4 | 1 | ![]() | |
FW | Gilberto | 1 January 2001 | 3 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Ivan Cavaleiro | 18 October 1993 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
The following players have also been called up to the Angola squad within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Emanuel Nsesani | 5 November 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Beny Tchissingui | 20 February 2000 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Vicente David Paulo Pedro | 14 October 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Hugo Marques | 15 January 1986 | 18 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Ladu Langanga | 15 October 1996 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Enoque Paulo Guilherme | 30 December 1984 | 7 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Ruben Aderito | 1 January 2000 | 2 | 0 | Unknown | v. ![]() |
DF | Simão Dianzenza | 30 December 1999 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Mindinho | 18 November 2004 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Tiago Fota | 28 November 2003 | 1 | 0 | Unknown | v. ![]() |
DF | José Amaldo | 28 November 2004 | 0 | 0 | Unknown | v. ![]() |
DF | Yobo Cambuta | 14 April 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Gigli Ndefe | 2 March 1994 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Lulas | 17 May 1996 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Jordy Gaspar | 23 April 1997 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Pedro Agostinho | 21 July 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Paizo | 10 May 1992 | 18 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Domingos Razão | 1 January 1998 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Danilson | 6 July 1999 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Jô | 7 July 1996 | 2 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Victoriano | 1 January 1994 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Cesar Cangue Jeremias | 3 September 2003 | 3 | 1 | Unknown | v. ![]() |
MF | Lisandro | 22 June 2003 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Moisés Amor | 28 February 2003 | 3 | 1 | Unattached | v. ![]() |
MF | Muila | 25 April 2000 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Antonio Nzinga Lopes | 28 November 2000 | 3 | 0 | Unattached | v. ![]() |
MF | Apado | 13 May 2004 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Alexandre Domingos | 14 February 2004 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Pedro Emanuel Ganga | 12 August 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Jeronimo Abrao | 9 January 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Show | 6 March 1999 | 31 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Loide Augusto | 26 February 2000 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Herenilson | 26 August 1996 | 40 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Kibeixa | 18 July 1993 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Além | 6 December 1997 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Benarfa | 25 January 2001 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Valter Monteiro | 8 November 2005 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Emanuel Goncalves | 3 September 2000 | 3 | 1 | Unknown | v. ![]() |
FW | Ary Papel | 3 March 1994 | 50 | 8 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | M'Bala Nzola | 18 August 1996 | 6 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Depú | 8 January 2000 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Geraldo | 9 November 1991 | 30 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Nélson da Luz | 4 February 1998 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Vá | 24 April 1998 | 32 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Jaredi Lopes Texeira | 11 November 1998 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Jermain Nischalke | 26 March 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. |
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Flávio | 91 | 34 | 2000–2012 |
2. | Gilberto | 89 | 10 | 1999–2015 |
3. | Love Cabungula | 79 | 11 | 2001–2016 |
4. | Akwá | 78 | 39 | 1995–2006 |
5. | Yamba Asha | 77 | 1 | 2000–2009 |
6. | Kali | 73 | 0 | 2003–2011 |
7. | André Macanga | 70 | 2 | 1999–2012 |
Mateus | 70 | 14 | 2006–2021 | |
9. | Job | 64 | 7 | 2007–2018 |
10. | António João Neto | 59 | 1 | 1992–2001 |
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Akwá | 39 | 78 | 0.5 | 1995–2006 |
2. | Flávio | 34 | 91 | 0.37 | 2000–2012 |
3. | Manucho | 22 | 53 | 0.42 | 2006–2017 |
4. | Paulão | 19 | 52 | 0.37 | 1993–2001 |
5. | Jesús | 18 | 48 | 0.38 | 1979–1990 |
6 | Gelson Dala | 14 | 34 | 0.41 | 2015–present |
Mateus | 14 | 70 | 0.2 | 2006–2021 | |
8. | Love Cabungula | 11 | 79 | 0.14 | 2001–2016 |
9. | Gilberto | 10 | 89 | 0.11 | 1999–2015 |
10. | Quinzinho | 9 | 40 | 0.23 | 1994–2001 |
Ndunguidi | 9 | 44 | 0.2 | 1978–1991 |
See also: Angola at the FIFA World Cup |
As of 2022, Angola has qualified once for a FIFA World Cup. Its first participation in the World Cup qualifiers was in 1986, where they won in the first round, beating Senegal 4−3 on penalty kicks. They later lost in the second round of the 1986 World Cup qualifiers to Algeria. Algeria went to the third round and qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Angola's first participation in the World Cup was in the 2006 World Cup, in Germany.
Year | Final Tournament | Qualification | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | ||
![]() ![]() |
Part of Portugal | Part of Portugal | |||||||||||||
![]() |
Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | |||||||||||||
![]() |
did not enter | Declined participation | |||||||||||||
![]() |
did not qualify | Second round | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
![]() |
Second round – 3rd | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||
![]() |
First round – 3rd | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||
![]() |
Final round – 2nd | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 5 | ||||||||
![]() ![]() |
Final round – 2nd | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 10 | ||||||||
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Second round – 1st[A] | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 9 | |
![]() |
did not qualify | Second round – 2nd[B] | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | |||||||
![]() |
Second round – 3rd | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 5 | ||||||||
![]() |
Second round | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||
![]() |
Second round – 4th | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | ||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() |
to be determined | to be determined | |||||||||||||
Total | 1/22 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | —!69 | 27 | 24 | 18 | 88 | 66 |
Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks; correct as of 10 September 2019 after the match against Gambia.
Year | Final Tournament | Qualification | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | ||
![]() ![]() |
Part of Portugal | Part of Portugal | |||||||||||||
![]() ![]() |
Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | |||||||||||||
![]() |
did not qualify | Preliminary round | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
![]() |
First round | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||
![]() |
did not enter | did not enter | |||||||||||||
![]() |
did not qualify | First round | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
![]() |
First round | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | ||||||||
![]() |
4th | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||
![]() |
did not enter | did not enter | |||||||||||||
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1st | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8 | |
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
![]() ![]() |
did not qualify | 4th | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | |||||||
![]() |
3rd | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 8 | ||||||||
![]() |
2nd | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | Second round – 1st[C] | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 9 | |
![]() |
Quarter-finals | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1st | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 5 | |
![]() |
Quarter-finals | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | Second round – 2nd[D] | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | |
![]() ![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1st | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | |
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
![]() |
did not qualify | 3rd | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |||||||
![]() |
3rd | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | ||||||||
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1st | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | |
![]() |
did not qualify | 4th | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | |||||||
![]() |
to be determined | to be determined | |||||||||||||
![]() | |||||||||||||||
Totals | 8/33 | 26 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 39 | —!100 | 46 | 26 | 38 | 145 | 114 |
Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks; correct as of 29 March 2021 after the match against Gabon.
Main article: COSAFA Cup |
Year | COSAFA Cup | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Result | M | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1997 | did not enter | ||||||
1998 | Third place | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
1999 | Winners | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
2000 | Semi-final | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
2001 | Winners | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
2002 | Quarter-final | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
2003 | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
2004 | Winners | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
2005 | Semi-final | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
2006 | Runners-up | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 |
2007 | Quarter-final | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
![]() |
See Angola national under-20 football team. | ||||||
![]() |
Quarter-final | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
![]() |
Plate final | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
![]() |
did not enter | ||||||
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
![]() |
Withdrew | ||||||
![]() |
Cancelled | ||||||
![]() |
did not enter | ||||||
![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
Totals | 16/21 | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 41 | 36 |