2023 AFCON: Angola secures quarter-final berth with convincing win over Namibia

Angola secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a resounding 3-0 victory over Namibia. SportsRation reports.

Gelson Dala emerged as the hero, scoring twice in a match that also saw both teams reduced to ten men before half-time.

The dramatic turn of events began when Angola’s goalkeeper, Neblu, received an early red card for handling the ball outside his area. Shortly after, Namibia’s Lubeni Haukongo was sent off with a second yellow card, leaving both teams at a numerical disadvantage.

Despite being a man down, Angola orchestrated a beautiful move that led to Dala’s opening goal. Fredy and Gilberto combined skillfully, setting up Dala for a straightforward finish.

Namibia’s challenges escalated when, in a span of four minutes, they suffered another setback. Haukongo, already on a yellow card, received his second booking for a foul on Mabululu. The subsequent free-kick saw Dala heading in his fourth goal of the tournament, doubling Angola’s lead.

The second half saw no reprieve for Namibia, as Dala orchestrated a brilliant play, setting up Mabululu for a sensational curling finish that effectively sealed the outcome. Angola’s 3-0 triumph stands as their biggest ever win in the Africa Cup of Nations.

With this victory, Angola advances to the quarter-finals and will face either Nigeria or Cameroon in the next stage of the competition. The convincing performance by Angola, despite being down to ten men, showcases their resilience and determination in the pursuit of AFCON success.

They will now face the winner of the Nigeria Vs Cameroon round of 16 clash in the quater-final.

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