Angola defeated Mauritania 3-2 on Saturday to take the lead in Group D of the AFCON 2023.
The match featured numerous excellent goals, with two goals from Gelson Dala pushing Angola closer to a spot in the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Amar Sidi Bouna and Aboubakary Koita both had outstanding individual performances for Mauritania, who are currently bottom of the standings after losing their second game in the tournament in Ivory Coast. Winger Gilberto scored the other goal for the winners.
Top-seeded Algeria is third in the group with two points after forcing a 2-2 draw with Burkina Faso at the Stade de la Paix earlier in stoppage time. Angola leads Burkina Faso in goals scored.
After Mauritania failed to clear a corner, which saw Gelson Dala hit a spectacular effort that struck the ground hard and bounced over the opposing defence into the net, Angola took the lead and took control of the first half of the match.
Two minutes before halftime, Bouna’s incredible solo effort tied the score for Mauritania. He slid past five Angolan defenders and finished with his left foot.
Then, in the span of three minutes, Angola scored twice as Gelson Dala attempted to replicate Bouna’s performance. He picked up the ball close to the halfway line and accelerated towards the Mauritania defence, who attempted to force him wide, but he ultimately chipped the ball in from an awkward angle.
After stealing the ball from the Mauritania defence, Gilberto—a late addition to the tournament—cut in from the byline and scored at the near post from an even closer range.
But in the 58th minute, Koita unleashed another blistering strike, this time from outside the Angolan penalty area, to cut the lead to just one goal.
Along the halfway line, he also collected the ball. Cutting inside, he headed towards goal and blasted a shot that left the Angolan custodian with no chance.
Both parties had the chance to contribute more to an intriguing exchange.
In their last group match on Tuesday, Angola will play Burkina Faso, while Algeria will play Mauritania. All four teams have an opportunity to advance to the next round.