Petro de Luanda sack coach after 2-0 loss to Scottland

Angolan champions Petro de Luanda have parted ways with head coach João Pedro Sousa, two days after Scottland FC beat them 2-0 in Harare in the CAF Champions League.

ZBC News and The Herald both reported the departure on Tuesday, and Angolan sports outlet Cabine Desportiva described it as official. The club had not posted a statement on its website when we checked.

The result that cost him

Scottland won Sunday's first leg of the second preliminary round at the National Sports Stadium. Petro played almost the whole match with ten men after a player was sent off in the opening minutes, CAF said. NewZimbabwe reported that it was their goalkeeper.

The game was goalless at half-time. Khama Billiat scored midway through the second half, and Knowledge Musona added the second ten minutes from time.

Who comes next

ZBC News says Petro are reportedly in talks with Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos about a return to the club. Portugal's A Bola, citing the Angolan site Batunews, reports that Santos, now in charge of Nacional in Portugal, is close to a deal. Neither club has confirmed it.

The return leg

The sides meet again in Luanda on Friday, with Scottland two goals up. NewZimbabwe says that if Scottland go through, they will be the first Zimbabwean side to reach the group stage since FC Platinum in 2020.

What we don't know yet

Whether the club will give a reason for Sousa's exit beyond the result.

How long Alexandre Santos's new contract runs.

Sources: ZBC News on X, 20 Oct 2026: https://x.com/ZBCNewsonline/status/2112500939244376295 · The Herald on X, 20 Oct 2026: https://x.com/HeraldZimbabwe/status/2112500953156866072 (The Herald) · Cabine Desportiva (Angola) on X, 20 Oct 2026: https://x.com/CabineSport/status/2112501173353668793 · A Bola (Portugal), 20 Oct 2026: https://www.abola.pt/noticias/nacional-contestado-alexandre-santos-pode-regressar-ao-petro-de-luanda-2026102008504921265 · CAF, 18 Oct 2026: https://www.cafonline.com/caf-champions-league/news/rangers-scottland-and-al-hilal-take-commanding-leads-in-totalenergies-caf-champions-league-qualifiers/ · NewZimbabwe, 19 Oct 2026: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/scottland-fc-beat-petro-de-luanda-in-caf-champions-league-match/ · CD Nacional statement, 20 Oct 2026: https://www.cdnacional.pt/acertada-transferencia-de-alexandre-santos-para-o-petro-de-luanda/ · Bola na Rede (Portugal), 20 Oct 2026: https://bolanarede.pt/especial-bola-na-rede/atualidade/oficial-alexandre-santos-deixa-o-cd-nacional-e-ruma-ao-petro-de-luanda/ · ZBC News on X, 20 Oct 2026: https://x.com/ZBCNewsonline/status/2112591115824046190 · The Herald (Tawah Munthali), 23 Oct 2026: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/scottlands-african-dream-crashes-in-luanda/ · Daily Sports, 23 Oct 2026: https://dailysports.net/news/caf-champions-league-petro-luanda-overturn-scottland-fc-to-secure-their-place-in-the-group-stage/ · Flashscore Portugal, 23 Oct 2026: https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-caf-liga-dos-campeoes-liga-dos-campeoes-africana-alexandre-santos-estreia-se-pelo-petro-de-luanda-com-vitoria-3-0/t4JTH8BF/

Updates

20:35 BST, Friday 23 OctoberLatest

Scottland are out. Petro de Luanda beat them 3-0 in Friday's second leg in Luanda, turning round the 2-0 first-leg deficit to go through 3-2 on aggregate and into the CAF Champions League group stage. Rúben Aderito put Petro ahead in the 18th minute, and they led 1-0 at half-time. Jorge Pereira scored in the 67th minute to level the tie on aggregate, and Pedro Aparício got the winner five minutes from time, The Herald and Daily Sports report. It was Alexandre Santos's first game back in charge of Petro, Portugal's Flashscore notes, after he left Nacional earlier this week. The Herald called it "a great start to life" for Santos in his second spell at the club. For Norman Mapeza's Scottland, it ends the hope of becoming the first Zimbabwean side in the group stage since FC Platinum in 2020. The Herald said the Zimbabwean champions "failed to protect their lead" and were left to reflect on surrendering a two-goal advantage.

20:35 BST, Tuesday 20 October

Petro de Luanda have a new coach, according to his former club. Portuguese side Nacional said on Tuesday evening that it had agreed with Petro de Luanda to transfer its head coach, Alexandre Santos, "with immediate effect", and thanked him and his assistants for their work. Portugal's Bola na Rede reported the move too, noting that Santos leaves Nacional after only four games in charge. Santos is returning to Petro, the club he coached before. We haven't yet seen a statement from Petro, and the length of his contract hasn't been confirmed. Scottland have also arrived in Luanda for Friday's second leg, ZBC News reports. Norman Mapeza's side take a 2-0 lead into the match.

Join the conversation

Have your say in the comments below.

Share this story with someone who should see it.

Tell us

Spotted something we missed or got wrong, or know more about this story? Get in touch.

How we report: every fact is sourced and checked against the live source, the sources are listed above, and updates are timestamped.

Corrections: this story has not been corrected. See all corrections on our corrections page, and read our editorial policy.

Katakura breaks Zimbabwe marathon record with 2:06:23 in Amsterdam

Godwin Katakura ran 2:06:23 to finish 12th at the Amsterdam Marathon, a new Zimbabwe men's record and 23 seconds off the World Championships qualifying time.

By Zimbo Grapevine News Desk20 Oct 2026

Zimbabwe and West Indies players line up for the national anthems at the 2015 Cricket World Cup

SportNews report: sourced and attributed

Chevrons crushed by 158 runs as Afghanistan win tri-series match

Afghanistan bowled Zimbabwe out for 136 in Abu Dhabi to win by 158 runs. Zimbabwe's place in the tri-series final now depends on other results.

By Zimbo Grapevine News Desk20 Oct 2026

Sandton office towers under a pink evening sky.

CultureNews report: sourced and attributed

Everton Mlalazi joins Replenishment Concert line-up in Sandton, 31 Oct

Zimbabwean gospel singer Everton Mlalazi is the international act at Tbo Touch's fifth Replenishment Concert at Sandown High Top Field, Sandton, on 31 October.

By Zimbo Grapevine News Desk20 Oct 2026

Petro de Luanda sack coach after 2-0 loss to Scottland

The result that cost him

Who comes next

The return leg

What we don't know yet

Updates

Join the conversation

Comments

More from Sports & Entertainment

Katakura breaks Zimbabwe marathon record with 2:06:23 in Amsterdam

Chevrons crushed by 158 runs as Afghanistan win tri-series match

Everton Mlalazi joins Replenishment Concert line-up in Sandton, 31 Oct