Angola’s Petro de Luanda secure Brazilian defender

Angolan top-flight league outfit Petro de Luanda FC have signed Brazilian defender Matheus Costa ahead of the 2025-2026 season.

The Girabola champions confirmed the capture of the 30-year-old on a year-long contract.

“The experienced player arrives with the mission of strengthening the defensive sector and contributing to Petro’s competitive objectives, both nationally and continentally,” the statement reads.

“With a career marked by consistency, keen tactical understanding, and leadership on the pitch, Matheus is seen as an asset.

“The arrival of Matheus Costa represents another step in Petro de Luanda’s commitment to consolidating its position as a benchmark in Angolan football and establishing itself among the greats of the African continent.”

Coach Franc Artiga hopes Costa’s experience, gained from Brazilian teams such as Botafogo SP, Marítimo, Boavista and Rio Branco ES, would help shore up Luanda’s defence.

The seasoned centre-back is Petro de Luanda sixth signing after Eliseu António Bicho Verela, Jorge Pereira, Tiago Reis, Jó Paciência, and Pedro Soba.

Meanwhile, the Luanda-based team are busy with their pre-season in Portugal where they have defeated Desportivo de Mafra 3-0, Atlético 1-0 and União de Leiria 2-0. In the games played, Franc Artiga’s men start their Girabola season against Kabuscorp do Palanca in a Super Cup match on September 13 2025.