CHAN CHAN 2022: Angola Share spoils With Mauritania In Group D

In a match between Mauritania and Angola in Group D of the ongoing African Nations Championship CHAN 2022 in Algeria, the spoils were split at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran.

The draw gives Mauritania their first point of the competition in their opening game, while Angola earns their second after Monday’s tense 3-3 draw with Mali.

The outcome leaves the group wide open going into the final Group D match on Tuesday, which will determine who moves on to the competition’s knockout rounds. Mali will play Mauritania.

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As was to be expected, Angola pushed for an early advantage but was let down by bad judgment in the last third as Mauritania stopped all of their attacks.

Sidi Amar pounced on a loose ball in the 17th minute after Angola failed to clear a cross, causing a scramble in the box. Fortunately for Angola, the ball rebounded off the crowded bodies to keep the scores level.

Later on, the Angolans came close to scoring after a strong move down the right by the dangerous Deivi Vieira ended with a pinpoint cross from the winger to Jaredi Teixeira, who was unfortunate to see his shot go over the bar.

After the break, Mauritania surprised everyone by exploding into action and putting Angola under pressure with their rapid build-up plays.

Their captain, Mouaye Khalil, did well to get past two defenders in the 55th minute to unleash a potent grass-cutter, but Hugo Marques, who was as vigilant, was there to stop it.

In order to strengthen his offense and stabilize the midfield as the pressure mounted, Angola coach Pedro Goncalves substituted Joao Diogo and Keliano Manuel for Teixeira and Herenilson Do Carmo.

After both players contributed to a solid buildup that resulted in Vieira getting his second chance at goal but seeing his shot saved by the advancing Namori Diaw, the move nearly immediately paid dividends.

In the 83rd minute, Diogo, who was towering over two Mauritania players, nearly punished a defensive failure by heading the ball from a Corte De Jesus cross, but the goalkeeper acrobatically saved it.

Angola might have scored the game-winning goal with just seconds remaining after a fantastic buildup from the left resulted in Laurindo Aurelio threading a lovely ball beyond the face-off goal, but Vieira’s lack of composure caused the shot to miss.

As a result, Angola will have to wait impatiently to learn the outcome of the TotalEnergies CHAN match between Mali and Mauritania on Tuesday evening.


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