With a new double from Gelson Dala, Angola dominated Namibia (3-0) to reach the quarter-finals of the African Cup for the third time in its history, Saturday in Bouaké.
After 2008 and 2010, with the team of the generation which competed in the country’s only World Cup in 2006, the “Palancas Negras” (Black Antelopes) will attempt the semi-finals for the first time, against the winner of Cameroon-Nigeria ( kick-off at 9:00 p.m.). Already a double scorer against Mauritania (3-2), the striker from Al-Wakrah, in Qatar, did it again and finished in four nightmare minutes (38, 42) of the “Brave Warriors” who glimpsed an even more beautiful history, after winning against Tunisia (1-0) their very first victory in four CAN.
But the Namibians did not make the most of their 23 minutes playing eleven against ten, after the exclusion of goalkeeper Neblù (17). When Betuel Muzeu stole a ball from central defender Gaspar and attempted a lob. the last Angolan barrier prevented the goal but he had advanced too far and was sent off for handball outside his area.
Dominique, goalkeeper for Étoile de Carouge, a club from the suburbs of Geneva, in the 3rd Swiss division, came on in place of Estrela and immediately warmed his gloves, with a beautiful dive to take the shot free following the foul of Neblù, shot by Deon Hotto (22), one of the stars of Namibia. Collin Benjamin’s players then played the game, but their dream of a historic quarter-final collapsed in three blows from the machete that adorns the Angolan flag.
Pedro Gonçalves’ players first scored outnumbered on a very good action, a pass from Gilberto behind the defense for his captain Fredy, whose cross found Gelson Dala. Two minutes later, defender Lubeni Haukongo received a second yellow card for a foul on Mabululu (40th) and put the teams back at ten against ten.
And finally on the free kick, Fredy placed the ball on the head of Gelson Dala for the double. The Angolan becomes second top scorer of the tournament behind the Equatorial Guinean Emilio Nsue (5 goals), who plays Sunday against Guinea. Mabululu follows closely with a third goal scored against, with a superb wrapped shot (66th). The Namibians only scored one goal, by Deon Hotto against Tunisia. Peter Shalulile, the other star of the Brave Warriors, did not succeed despite two good chances (48, 68), but Namibia still succeeded in its CAN.
