Hanoi, 24 June 2025 – Clube Recreativo Desportivo do Libolo has arrived in Vietnam to begin a short but meaningful friendly tour, facing two of the country’s most prominent V.League 1 teams.
Despite finishing 12th in the 2024–25 Girabola season, the Angolan club, once a dominant force in its home league, is looking to make a statement on foreign soil. Nicknamed “Os Coelhos” (The Rabbits), Libolo built a legacy as one of Angola’s most successful teams with four national league titles in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015. Although their recent domestic campaign did not reach previous heights, the team remains an important figure in Angolan football and is now aiming to gain international exposure and sharpen its competitiveness ahead of the next season.
CRD Libolo will play their first match on June 26 at Thien Truong Stadium against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, the defending champions of V.League 1. Nam Dinh has won back-to-back titles in the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 seasons, marking a remarkable rise to power in Vietnamese football and ending decades of waiting. Their home ground, Thien Truong Stadium, is known for its vibrant and passionate supporters and is expected to host a large crowd eager to witness the international clash. Just two days later, on June 28, Libolo will head to Ninh Binh to take on Hoang Anh Gia Lai, another iconic Vietnamese club recognized for its technical playing style and strong youth academy. Although Hoang Anh Gia Lai suffered a heavy 6–1 defeat to Nam Dinh in May, they remain a formidable side, especially on home turf.
This tour represents an important opportunity for Libolo. With their home base in the small town of Calulo and a 5,000-seat stadium, the club rarely plays in such large, energetic environments. While Libolo’s basketball division—once known as one of Africa’s best—was disbanded in 2018, the football team continues to carry the club’s banner forward. These matches will allow the Angolan side to assess their form, adapt to new styles of play, and potentially lay the groundwork for future international cooperation.
Both matches will kick off at 18:00 local time and are open to the public, with ticketing handled by the host clubs. Vietnamese football fans will be treated to a rare encounter with a historic African team, while CRD Libolo will get a taste of Southeast Asia’s football passion. These two friendlies promise a rich blend of cultures, styles, and ambitions, and may just signal the beginning of stronger sporting ties between Vietnam and Angola.
Dang Long
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