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Join on Telegram Rabat – If anyone still harbored doubts about the impressive level of this Angolan team that danced its way to the round of 16, perhaps today’s result might help put things into broader context for those doubters who missed Angola’s magnificent displays in their group games.
As if topping a group that included traditional favorites Algeria and Mali was not majestic enough, Angola appeared to enter their round of 16 clash against Namibia to announce themselves as serious contenders for this surprise-packed AFCON.
It is just not that the thumping 3-0 scoreline and the spectacular football that brought it about was indeed pleasing to the eyes; it is, essentially, that the control and sense of purpose with which the Angolans played even while being a man down oozed their self-assurance and determination to just play on.
Even with a red card in the 17th minute, they were seemingly unaffected and confident that, should they keep playing the way they had done so far, the goals and domination would soon come.
And come they ultimately did, with a collective movement at the 25th minute ending up in a composed and beautifully taken goal by Gelson Dala. Soon after, the Namibian team went a man down after defender L. Haukongo fouled Mabululu not far from the Namibian penalty area.
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The resulting free-kick led to the second Angolan goal in the 42nd minute, again courtesy of forward Gelson Dala.
Logically enough, this was the start of Namibia’s collective collapse as the composed and dominant Angolans grew even more into the team and appeared to be looking for an emphatic victory to send a statement to their next opponents.
The third goal came rather predictably as Angola continued to press forward, with Mabululu scoring an impressive third goal following an equally impressive style of counterattacking.
This AFCON has seen traditionally “small” or “minor” teams increasingly looking to end the dominance of the traditional favorites on the African footballing landscape.
And with this comfortable and spectacular round of 16 victory, Angola’s Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes) have definitely introduced themselves as one of the teams to watch as this continental tournament enters its final stages.
