Angola progress to AFCON quarter-finals with action-packed win over Namibia
Blink and you miss it was the theme of the first half, as two goals and two red cards punctuated a frantic opening 45 minutes. It started in the worst possible way for favourites Angola, when goalkeeper Neblu received a straight red card for handling outside the penalty area, following an attempted chip from Namibia forward Bethuel Muzeu.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, it wouldn’t impact Angola’s attacking endeavours, with a nicely worked move being turned home at the opposite end by Gelson Dala moments later.
Trailing by a goal to nil, Namibia had plenty of work to do, but their task got even harder when they themselves were reduced to 10 men. A clumsy second-yellow card offence from Lubeni Pombili Haukongo left referee Beida Dahane no choice but to brandish the defender a red card.
From the freekick Haukongo had conceded, Angola actually doubled their lead, with Dala rising highest in the 18-yard box to nod home his second of the afternoon.
After the chaos in the first period, it was no surprise to see things calm down early in the second half, with Angola sitting back in an attempt to protect their lead.
The Black Sable Antelopes remained dangerous on the counter-attack though, which is exactly how they found their third goal. Breaking in behind a stretched Namibian defence, Mabululu curled home a stylish right-footed effort midway through the second half to wrap up the win for Angola.
A memorable night for Angola, whose last quarter-final appearance at AFCON came when they were host nation back in 2010, with Gonçalves now looking to go at least one step further this time around.
As for Namibia, their first-ever AFCON knockout fixture ends in disappointment, and the Brave Warriors will look back on the early red card to goalkeeper Neblú as a missed opportunity.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Gelson Dala (Angola)
Check out all the match stats here.