Angola winger Gilberto looks set to miss the World Cup Finals in Germany in June according to officials from the Angolan Football Federation.

Gilberto, who plays for Ahly in Egypt, suffered an Achilles tendon injury on the eve of the African Cup of Nations finals in Egypt in January and travelled to Germany for an operation to aid recovery.

The Angolan Federation vice president, Jose Luis Prata, said Gilberto's recovery had been slow and doctors had told the Angolans that there was little chance he would recover in time for the World Cup in Germany.

The 23-year-old, who helped his club-side Ahly win the African Champions League last November, was one of Angola's key players in the Palancas Negras’ surprise qualification, where they beat their group favourites Nigeria to the top of the group to book a place at their first World Cup Finals.

Angola have already lost their vastly experienced left back Yamba Asha - the only player to have competed in all 12 of Angola’s qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup Finals – After failing a drugs test.

In January, FIFA gave Asha a six-month ban for the drugs offence, meaning he cannot play again until August, missing out on the World Cup.

The ban meant Asha also missed out on the African Nations Cup finals, where Angola were disappointingly knocked out in the group stage.

Angola have been drawn in Group D in the World Cup Finals, alongside Mexico, Portugal and Iran.

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