Angola on the brink of history at Africa Cup of Nations

Angola have been one of the surprise packages of the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast, reaching their first quarterfinal since they exited at that stage in 2010.

It has already been a record-breaking tournament for the side in several different ways, and now they seek a first ever semifinal place when they take on Nigeria in the last-8 in Abidjan on Friday.

Here is a look at some of their achievements this campaign.

MULTIPLE WINS

Angola have been to nine Cup of Nations finals in all, but never before this one had they claimed victory in more than one game. In the Ivory Coast they have three wins already, shattering that record. They managed pool stage success against Mauritania (3-2) and most impressively Burkina Faso (2-0), before a 3-0 win in the last-16 against Namibia. In fact, before this tournament, Angola had only managed four wins in 26 finals matches, a figure they can match in just five games in the ivory Coast.

UNBEATEN RUN

Angola are currently on a four-game unbeaten run in the Cup of Nations, including their opening 1-1 draw with Algeria in the Ivory Coast. It is the first time in their history they have won three games on the trot. Their best run of unbeaten games is five (W2 D3) straddling the 2006 and 2008 tournaments, a number they can match against Nigeria on Friday.

MOST GOALS AT A FINALS

Angola have already scored nine times in their four games to date in these finals, smashing their previous record. Their highest tally previously was the six goals in four games they managed in 2010, while in total they had 30 goals from their 26 games prior to this year. One more against Nigeria and they will have scored a third of that number in these finals alone.

HOT-SHOTS

Angola forward Gelson Dala has been in red-hot form at the finals and has four goals to date, placing him second so far in the race for the Golden Boot award, one behind ousted Equatorial Guinea star Emilio Nsue. The 27-year-old, who plays his club football for Qatari side Al-Wakrah, netted a brace against Mauritania and two more versus Namibia in the last-16. That leaves him level with legend Manucho’s Angola record of four Cup of Nations finals goals in a single tournament. He might not be the only one to hit a new best mark though, the exciting Mabululu has three goals so far in the Ivory Coast.

FIRST QUARTERFINAL WIN

Should Angola advance against Nigeria it will be their first time past in the last-8 of the Cup of Nations. They lost 2-1 to eventual champions Egypt in 2008 despite Manucho equalising in the first half, and then went down 1-0 to Ghana on home soil in 2010. Asamoah Gyan got the only goal after 15 minutes. Can this side go one better?