Angola sent Mauritania packing from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after claiming a thrilling 3-2 victory in their Group D clash at the Stade de la Paix on Saturday.
Gelson Dala's brace and a goal from Gilberto saw the Black Sable Antelopes maintain their unbeaten start to the tournament as they moved to the top of the group, while the Lions of Chinguetti were eliminated following back-to-back defeats, although stunning strikes from Sidi Amar and Aboubakary Koita kept them in the game.
Angola go to the top of Group D with a vital win over Mauritania 🇦🇴⚽️
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 20, 2024
Tunisia and Mali is the final game of the day 🔜
📺 Stream #AFCON2023 live: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/gUN3VEURgv
The possession stakes were largely even in the first half and neither team was afraid to have a pop at goal, with Mauritania managing eight attempts to Angola's 13.
Most of the shots were wayward, although Mabululu threatened to open the scoring in the 13th minute with a shot from inside the box on the right that was turned behind by Babacar Niasse for a corner.
Neblu was called into action for the first time on 29 minutes to deal with a shot from Pape Ba and the Black Sable Antelopes went up the other end of the pitch to score moments later as Dala slotted home from close range after the ball fell at his feet from a corner.
The Lions of Chinguetti hit back before halftime, however, when Amar beat two players inside the box before rifling his shot past Neblu in the 43rd minute to level matters.
Angola came flying out of the blocks in the second half and found themselves back in front on 50 minutes as Dala was given the freedom of the pitch to advance into the box unopposed before lobbing the goalkeeper for his second goal.
Two quickly became three after Gilberto won the ball back inside the opposition box and punished them with a clinical finish from a tight angle on 53 minutes.
Koita cut the deficit to one just five minutes later though as he unleashed a rocket from range that flew into the top left corner of the net.
Angola invited late pressure from Mauritania after retreating into their shells, but Amir Abdou's side were unable to fashion decent scoring opportunities in the closing stages and crashed out of Afcon 2023.
How Group D stands after matchday 2. ✅#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/z3d3f44d0c
— Total Energies AFCON (@TotalAFCON2023) January 20, 2024
Mauritania (1) 2 (Amar 43', Koita 58')
Angola (1) 3 (Dala 30', 50', Gilberto 53')
Mauritania: B. Niasse, I. Keita, N. El Abd, L. Ba, A. Abeid (K. Diaw 46'), O. Gassama, G. Fofana (A. Kamara 59'), M. Bodda, S. Amar (H. Tanjy 81'), P. Ba (S. Doukara 59'), A. Koita.
Angola: Neblu, E. Afonso, K. Gaspar, J. Buatu, N. Fortuna, Fredy (Quinito 86'), Show, Gilberto (Z. Luvumbo 78'), G. Dala (Estrela 86'), Zini (M. Keliano 61'), Mabululu.