# Girabola

Girabola, or Campeonato Nacional de Futebol de Séniores Masculinos, is the top division of Angolan football. It is organized by the Angolan Football Federation.
The term "Girabola" (lit. 'spin ball') is a creation of the nationalist, radio broadcaster and sports reporter Rui Carvalho, in 1972, at a time when the Angolan championship was still officially called "Campeonato do Estado Ultramarino de Angola". The name "Girabola" differentiated the competition from the other overseas provinces and was a subtle form of anti-colonial protest.
The league winner and runner-up qualify for the CAF Champions League.

## History

The competition is the successor to the "Campeonato do Estado Ultramarino de Angola".
Between 1975 and 1979, this competition did not take place.
In 1979, the first edition of the post-independence, the competition was played, consisting of 24 teams, divided into groups of four or six teams, in a competition that started on December 8, 1979.
In 1980 the competition was contested by the thirteen teams best classified in the previous season, plus Sagrada Esperança, benefiting from the division of the Lundas into north and south. The last edition to be played by fourteen teams was in 1990.
In 1991 and 1992, sixteen teams participated in the competition. In 1993 and 1994, the number of teams competing was reduced to twelve, because of the civil war that prevented teams from Huambo from participating in the competition.
In 1995 the competition was again contested by fourteen teams. Since that year, the point system has also changed, with the winner of the game earning 3 points instead of the 2 points previously earned.
Since 2010, the championship has been contested by 16 teams.

## Girabola ZAP

In January 2016, Angolan subscription TV satellite and cable provider ZAP, the Angolan Football Federation and the Girabola clubs, signed a three-year deal in which ZAP will have broadcast rights over all Girabola matches. As part of the deal, the Angolan state-owned TV station TPA will be allowed to broadcast one game per week on its free-view platform. Also as part of the deal, the Girabola changes its denomination to Girabola ZAP.

## Qualification for African competitions
### Association ranking for 2020–21 CAF competitions

Association ranking for 2020–21 CAF Champions League and 2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup) from 2016 to 2019–20.

#### Legend

* CL: CAF Champions League
* CC: CAF Confederation Cup
* Associations ranked 1–12 and eligible to enter two teams in each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup)
| Rank | Rank | Rank | Association | 2016 (× 1) | 2016 (× 1) | 2017 (× 2) | 2017 (× 2) | 2018 (× 3) | 2018 (× 3) | 2018–19 (× 4) | 2018–19 (× 4) | 2019–20 (× 5) | 2019–20 (× 5) | Total |
| 2020 | 2019 | Mvt | Association | CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | Total |
| 1 | 2 | +1 | Morocco | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 190 |
| 2 | 3 | +1 | Egypt | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0.5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 167 |
| 3 | 1 | –2 | Tunisia | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 140 |
| 4 | 5 | +1 | DR Congo | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 83 |
| 5 | 4 | –1 | Algeria | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 81 |
| 6 | 6 | — | South Africa | 6 | 0 | 3 | 4.5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0.5 | 68.5 |
| 7 | 7 | — | Zambia | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 1 | 2 | 43 |
| 8 | 9 | +1 | Nigeria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 39 |
| 9 | 10 | +1 | Guinea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 38 |
| 10 | 11 | +1 | Angola | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 4 | 0 | 36 |

## List of champions before independence

The list of champions includes the national champions in the colonial period.
(Campeonato Provincial de Angola)
* 1941: Sporting de Luanda
* 1942: Sporting de Luanda
* 1943: Benfica de Benguela
* 1944: Sporting de Luanda
* 1945: Sport Clube da Catumbela
* 1946: Sporting de Luanda
* 1947: Sporting de Luanda
* 1948: unknown
* 1949: unknown
* 1950: unknown
* 1951: Ferroviário de Nova Lisboa
* 1952: Portugal de Benguela
* 1953: Ferroviário de Luanda
* 1954: Lobito Sports Clube
* 1955: Sporting de Luanda
* 1956: Sporting de Luanda
* 1957: Ferroviário de Nova Lisboa
* 1958: Sport Clube da Catumbela
* 1959: Portugal de Benguela
* 1960: Portugal de Benguela
* 1961: Portugal de Benguela
* 1962: Ferroviário de Luanda
* 1963: Sporting de Luanda
* 1964: Portugal de Benguela
* 1965: Atlético Sport Aviação
* 1966: Atlético Sport Aviação
* 1967: Atlético Sport Aviação
* 1968: Atlético Sport Aviação
* 1969: Independente Sport Clube
* 1970: Independente Sport Clube
* 1971: Independente Sport Clube
* 1972: Benfica de Nova Lisboa
* 1973: Futebol Clube do Moxico
* 1974: Ferroviário de Nova Lisboa
* 1975: Recreativo da Caála
Titles by team
| P | Team | Won | Years won |
| 1 | Sporting de Luanda | 8 | 1941, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1956, 1963 |
| 2 | Portugal de Benguela | 5 | 1952, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964 |
| 3 | ASA | 4 | 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 |
| 4 | Ferroviário de Nova Lisboa | 3 | 1951, 1957, 1974 |
| 4 | Ind. de Porto Alexandre | 3 | 1969, 1970, 1971 |
| 5 | Ferroviário de Luanda | 2 | 1953, 1962 |
| 5 | Sport Clube da Catumbela | 2 | 1945, 1958 |
| 6 | Recreativo da Caála | 1 | 1975 |
| 6 | Futebol Clube do Moxico | 1 | 1973 |
| 6 | Benfica de Nova Lisboa | 1 | 1972 |
| 6 | Lobito Sports Clube | 1 | 1954 |
| 6 | Benfica de Benguela | 1 | 1943 |

## Since independence (Girabola)

| Y | Club | Home | Coach |
| *1979: | Primeiro de Agosto (1) | Luanda | Nicola Berardinelli |
| *1980: | Primeiro de Agosto (2) | Luanda | Ivan Ridanović |
| *1981: | Primeiro de Agosto (3) | Luanda | Joaquim Dinis |
| *1982: | Petro de Luanda (1) | | Antônio Clemente |
| *1983: | Primeiro de Maio (1) | Benguela | Petar Knežević |
| *1984: | Petro de Luanda (2) | | Severino Miranda |
| *1985: | Primeiro de Maio (2) | Benguela | Rui Rodrigues |
| *1986: | Petro de Luanda (3) | | Carlos Silva |
| *1987: | Petro de Luanda (4) | | Antônio Clemente |
| *1988: | Petro de Luanda (5) | | Antônio Clemente |
| *1989: | Petro de Luanda (6) | | Carlos Queirós |
| *1990: | Petro de Luanda (7) | | Carlos Queirós |
| *1991: | Primeiro de Agosto (4) | Luanda | Dušan Condić |
| *1992: | Primeiro de Agosto (5) | Luanda | Dušan Condić |
| *1993: | Petro de Luanda (8) | | Gojko Zec |
| *1994: | Petro de Luanda (9) | | Gojko Zec |
| *1995: | Petro de Luanda (10) | | Jesus |
| *1996: | Primeiro de Agosto (6) | Luanda | Mário Calado |
| *1997: | Petro de Luanda (11) | | Jorge Ferreira |
| *1998: | Primeiro de Agosto (7) | Luanda | Daniel Ndunguidi |
| *1999: | Primeiro de Agosto (8) | Luanda | Daniel Ndunguidi |
| *2000: | Petro de Luanda (12) | | Djalma Cavalcante |
| *2001: | Petro de Luanda (13) | | Djalma Cavalcante |
| *2002: | ASA (1) | Luanda | Bernardino Pedroto |
| Y | Club | Home | Nat | Coach |
| *2003: | ASA (2) | Luanda | | Bernardino Pedroto |
| *2004: | ASA (3) | Luanda | | Bernardino Pedroto |
| *2005 | Sagrada Esperança (1) | Dundo | | Mário Calado |
| *2006: | Primeiro de Agosto (9) | Luanda | | Jan Brouwer |
| *2007: | Interclube (1) | Luanda | | Carlos Mozer |
| *2008: | Petro de Luanda (14) | | | Bernardino Pedroto |
| *2009: | Petro de Luanda (15) | | | Bernardino Pedroto |
| *2010: | Interclube (2) | Luanda | | Álvaro Magalhães |
| *2011: | Recreativo do Libolo (1) | Calulo | | Zeca Amaral |
| *2012: | Recreativo do Libolo (2) | | | Zeca Amaral |
| *2013: | Kabuscorp (1) | Luanda | | Eduard Eranosyan |
| *2014: | Recreativo do Libolo (3) | | | Miller Gomes |
| *2015: | Recreativo do Libolo (4) | | | João Paulo Costa |
| *2016: | Primeiro de Agosto (10) | | | Dragan Jović |
| *2017: | Primeiro de Agosto (11) | | | Dragan Jović |
| *2018: | Primeiro de Agosto (12) | | | Zoran Manojlović |
| *2018–19: | Primeiro de Agosto (13) | | | Dragan Jović |
| *2019–20: | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| *2020–21: | Sagrada Esperança (2) | Dundo | | Roque Sapiri |
| *2021–22: | Petro de Luanda (16) | Luanda | | Alexandre Santos |
| *2022–23: | Petro de Luanda (17) | Luanda | | Alexandre Santos |
* ↑ Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

## Titles by team

| P | Team | Won | Years won |
| 1 | Petro de Luanda | 17 | 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2022, 2023 |
| 2 | Primeiro de Agosto | 13 | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| 3 | Recreativo do Libolo | 4 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 |
| 4 | AS Aviação | 3 | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| 5 | Primeiro de Maio | 2 | 1983, 1985 |
| 5 | Interclube | 2 | 2007, 2010 |
| 5 | Sagrada Esperança | 2 | 2005, 2021 |
| 6 | Kabuscorp | 1 | 2013 |

## Top goalscorers

| Year | Name | Team | Goals |
| 1979 | João Machado | Diabos Verdes | 18 |
| 1980 | Alves | Primeiro de Agosto | 29 |
| 1981 | Maluka † | Primeiro de Maio | 20 |
| 1982 | Jesus | Petro de Luanda | 21 |
| 1983 | Maluka | Primeiro de Maio | 17 |
| 1984 | Jesus | Petro de Luanda | 22 |
| 1985 | Jesus | Petro de Luanda | 19 |
| 1986 | Túbia | Inter Luanda | 20 |
| 1987 | Mavó † | Ferroviário da Huíla | 20 |
| 1988 | Manuel | Primeiro de Agosto | 16 |
| 1989 | André | Desportivo da Cuca | 18 |
| 1990 | Mona | Petro de Luanda | 17 |
| 1991 | Amaral Aleixo | Sagrada Esperança | 23 |
| 1992 | Amaral Aleixo | Petro de Luanda | 20 |
| 1993 | Serginho | Desportivo da EKA | 14 |
| 1994 | Kabongó | Sonangol do Namibe | 16 |
| 1995 | Serginho | Desportivo da EKA | 19 |
| 1996 | César Caná | Académica do Lobito | 15 |
| 1997 | Zé Neli | Petro do Huambo | 12 |
| 1998 | Betinho | Petro de Luanda | 14 |
| 1999 | Isaac | Primeiro de Agosto | 16 |
| 2000 | Blanchard | Benfica de Luanda | 19 |
| 2001 | Flávio Amado | Petro de Luanda | 23 |
| 2002 | Flávio Amado | Petro de Luanda | 16 |
| 2003 | Mateus André | Interclube | 12 |
| 2004 | Love Kabungula | ASA | 17 |
| 2005 | Love Kabungula | ASA | 13 |
| 2006 | Manucho Gonçalves | Petro de Luanda | 16 |
| 2007 | Manucho Gonçalves | Petro de Luanda | 14 |
| 2008 | Santana Carlos | Petro de Luanda | 20 |
| 2009 | David Magalhães | Petro de Luanda | 19 |
| 2010 | Daniel Mpele Mpele | Kabuscorp | 14 |
| 2011 | Love Kabungula | Petro de Luanda | 20 |
| 2012 | Yano | Progresso | 14 |
| 2013 | Albert Meyong | Kabuscorp | 20 |
| 2014 | Albert Meyong | Kabuscorp | 17 |
| 2015 | Yano | Progresso | 13 |
| 2016 | Gelson | Primeiro de Agosto | 23 |
| 2017 | Azulão | Petro de Luanda | 16 |
| 2018 | Azulão | Petro de Luanda | 20 |
| 2018–19 | Mabululu | Primeiro de Agosto | 14 |
| 2019–20 | Tony Ribeiro | Petro de Luanda | 15 |
| 2020–21 | Azulão | Petro de Luanda | 16 |
| 2021–22 | Azulão | Petro de Luanda | 21 |
| 2022–23 | Azulão | Petro de Luanda | 20 |
| 2023–24 | Benarfa | Kabuscorp | 15 |

### Most time goalscorer

* 5 times.
** Azulão (2017, 2018, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23.).

### Most goals by a player in a single season

* 29 goals.
** Alves (1980)

### Most goals by a player in a single game

* 6 goals.
** Vieira Dias (Primeiro Agosto) 7-0 against Sassamba, (1989)

### All-time goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | Years |
| 1 | Love | Angola | 135 | 2001-2017 |
| 2 | Azulão | Brazil | 125 | 2016 |
| 3 | Jesus | Angola | 111 | 1981-1988 |

## Multiple hat-tricks

| Rank | Country | Player | Hat-tricks |
| 1 | | Jesus | 7 |
| 2 | | Alves | 5 |
| 2 | | Azulão | 5 |
| 4 | | Túbia Ribeiro | 4 |
| 5 | | Ndisso | 3 |
| 5 | | Love | 3 |
| 5 | | Vieira Dias | 3 |
| 8 | | Abel Campos | 2 |
| 8 | | Andre | 2 |
| 8 | | Bebeto | 2 |
| 8 | | David Magalhães | 2 |
| 8 | | Flávio Amado | 2 |
| 8 | | João Machado | 2 |
| 8 | | Julião | 2 |
| 8 | | Julinho | 2 |
| 8 | | Rasca | 2 |
| 8 | | Rivaldo | 2 |
| 8 | | Santana Carlos | 2 |
| 8 | | Yano | 2 |
| 20 | Several players | Several players | 1 |

### Most hat-tricks in a single season

* 10 hat-tricks (2020-21)

### Most hat-tricks by a player in a single season

* 3 hat-tricks
** Jesus (1984)
* 3 hat-tricks
** Túbia Ribeiro (1986)

## Rádio 5 Awards

| Season | Best Player | Top Scorer | Best Goal-keeper | Best coach |
| 2013 | Amaro | Meyong | Abulá | |
| 2012 | Yano | Yano | Landu | Zeca Amaral |
| 2011 | Aguinaldo | Love | Hugo | Zeca Amaral |
| 2010 | Minguito | Mpele Mpele | | Álvaro Magalhães |
| 2009 | Job | David | Ângelo | Bernardino Pedroto |
| 2008 | Love | Santana | Capoco | Bernardino Pedroto |
| 2007 | Minguito | Manucho | Mário | Carlos Mozer |
| 2006 | Gazeta | Manucho | Lamá | Jan Brouwer |
| 2005 | Jamba | Love | | Oliveira Gonçalves |
| 2004 | Yamba Asha | Love | | |
| 2003 | Love | André | | |
| 2001 | Flávio | Flávio | Marito | Djalma Cavalcante |
| 2000 | Mbiyavanga | Blanchard | | Djalma Cavalcante |
| 1999 | Mendonça | Isaac | | Ndunguidi |