BOUAKE, Côte d’Ivoire — Angola edged closer to the AFCON 2023 round of 16 after securing a 3-2 win over Mauritania at Stade de Bouake de la Paix in Bouake.
From the outset, Angola (the Palancas Negras) was the most enterprising with their desperate search for the opener.
Gelson Dala found the opener for Angola in at the half hour mark to give his side the lead which was short lived as Sidi Bouna Amar pulled one back in the 43rd minute to level matters before the break.
Angola continued from where they left off in the second half with Dala getting his brace in the 50th minute before Gilberto stretched the lead further in the 53rd minute to put Angola in the driving seat.
However, a relentless Mauritania continued pushing forward and was rewarded in the 58th minute with a well struck goal by Aboubakary Koita to set up a photo-finish to the clash that ended 3-2 in Angola’s favour.
With this victory, Angola joins Burkina Faso at the top of group D with 4 points. The two teams will play in the final day to decide the group winner.
Palancas Negras climbed to the top of the Group D standings.
With 0 points, Mauritania remains last and will face Algeria in their final group match.
Gelson Dala broke the deadlock when he scored after Mauritania failed to clear a corner-kick on the half-hour mark.
However, Mauritania hit back through Sidi Amar who scored with a low shot from just outside the box two minutes before the half-time break.
Gelson Dala then completed his brace five minutes into the second half when he shot from an acute angle with little challenge from Mauritania defenders.
Gilberto then deflated the Mauritanians three minutes later when his effort was deflected into the net by defender Lamine Ba.
That was followed by another spectacular goal by the West Africans through Aboubakary Koita in what was a busy start to the second half.
Dala put up an exceptional performance in Angola’s win over Mauritania in their second group game.
Angola was chasing their first win in the CAF AFCON Côte d’lvoire 2023 and Dala showed up with a great performance to score a brace to hand them the win.
The 27-year scored in the 30th and 50th minutes of the game against Mauritania.
His excellent performance won him the Man of the Match.
“I am very happy with this great victory. We were very focused on the match. We knew that winning was important.
“We started this match with confidence and serenity.
“This victory will further encourage us for the next game against Burkina Faso, which will be very difficult for us. We are determined to stay focus and qualify to the next round,” he said after the game according to cafonline.