Angola breeze into Cup of Nations quarters with Namibia win

Updated: Jan 27, 2024, 07:20 pm
Mabululu's goal sparked wild celebrations among the Angolan players and staff.
Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images

Angola's Gelson Dala scored twice as they reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals with a comprehensive 3-0 last-16 victory over neighbours Namibia, who were left to rue four mad first-half minutes on Saturday.

Angola, who claimed their biggest ever Cup of Nations finals win, had an early setback when goalkeeper Neblu received a red card in the 17th minute and they were under pressure from a Namibia team that looked the most likely to find the net.

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But the game turned when Dala opened the scoring after 38 minutes. Namibia defender Lubeni Haukongo received a red card shortly afterwards and the Angola forward completed his double from the resulting free-kick with a fine header.

Angola added a third goal through Mabululu in the second period and now await a quarter-final tie against the winners of the round-of-16 clash between Nigeria and Cameroon that will be played later on Saturday.