In a hard-fought battle at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, Angola secured a pivotal 3-2 victory over Mauritania, putting themselves in a favourable position for qualification to the knockout stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023.
Gelson Dala showcased his skill, opening the scoring for Angola at the half-hour mark, but the lead was short-lived as Sidi Bouna Amar equalized for Mauritania in the 43rd minute.
Angola continued their aggressive play in the second half, with Dala securing his brace in the 50th minute, followed by Gilberto extending the lead in the 53rd minute. Mauritania, however, kept pushing forward, with Aboubakary Koita scoring in the 58th minute, setting up a tense finale that ended 3-2 in favour of Angola.
With this victory, Angola joins Burkina Faso at the top of Group D with 4 points each. The final group match between Angola and Burkina Faso will determine the group winner, while Mauritania, with 0 points, faces Algeria in their last group match.
Angola's head coach, Pedro Gonçalves, expressed hope for qualification following the win, praising the Mauritanian team for their resilience. Gonçalves emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum for the decisive match against Burkina Faso.
In response to the defeat, Mauritania's head coach, Amir Abdou, admitted his team was not up to par, acknowledging the gifts they gave to Angola. He urged his players to remain positive, emphasizing the need for a good performance in the upcoming game against Algeria.
Gelson Dala, the standout performer of the match, scored two crucial goals for Angola, earning him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award. Dala expressed happiness with the victory, highlighting the team's focus and determination for the next challenging encounter against Burkina Faso.
With this win, Angola leads Group D with 4 points, aiming for qualification to the next round.