Luanda – Angola beat Niger 2-0 on Friday, in Luanda’s 11 de Novembro Stadium, in the third round encounter to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), thus consolidating the lead of Group F with nine points.
After a balanced and goalles first part, the “Palancas Negras” (Sable Antelopes-Angolan squad’s nickname) went into the second half better synchronized, mainly after the coach did the first susbstitution in the Angolan team.
Milson, one of the replacements, was the “builder” of the moves that lead to the goals, by destabilizing the good defence “barrier” of the Niger squad, who were obviously trying to defend the nil-nil result.
The first goal happended after Milson managed to dodge the opponent and move into the small area, then on the right side of the attack he crossed the ball but its trajectory was stopped by a defence payer with his right arm, thus causing a penalty.
Mabululu, skilfully scored the penalty at 75 minutes.
Milson was placed in the pitch at 72 minutes in substitution of Zito Luvumbo. At 85 minutes after receiving the ball just after midfield he quickly progressed by dodging a couple of opponents and just before the penalty area he executed a steady and strong kick that did end up inside the opponents’ net, bringing the result to 2-0 at 85 minutes.
In the last minutes of the match the Palancas Negras played more for the public, who roudily manifested their satisfaction at the result, the quality of the game and some spectale put up by the Angolan squad.
Roughly 45,000 people were in the 11 de Novembro Stadium.
With this win, Angola lead the group with 9 points, followed by Sudan (4), Ghana (2) and Niger (1).
Angola and Niger will face off again, for the fouth round, on 15 October, in Morocco (venue borrowed by Niger). WR/MC/jmc
