Gelson Dala scored twice as Angola shrugged off the early dismissal of goalkeeper Neblu to beat 10-man Namibia and reach the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Neblu was shown a straight red in the 17th minute for handling Bethuel Muzeu’s shot outside his box, but Dala put Angola in front with a tap-in seven minutes before the break.
Namibia defender Lubeni Haukongo was soon sent off for a second bookable offence and two minutes later Dala doubled Angola’s lead by powerfully heading home Fredy’s free-kick.
Mabululu’s neat finish following a swift counter-attack midway through the second half wrapped up victory and sent the Palancas Negras into the last eight for the first time since 2010.
Angola will face Nigeria in the next round in Abidjan on Friday (17:00 GMT) after the Super Eagles beat Cameroon 2-0.
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Angola through despite Neblu’s moment of madness
Neblu’s red card did not cost Angola in the end, as the Palancas Negras reached the Afcon quarter-finals for the third time
Neblu had been booked for handling a through ball outside his area in Angola’s group-stage win over Burkina Faso, but referee Dahane Beida had no choice but to send off the 30-year-old in Bouake.
Kialonda Gaspar’s defensive mistake left Muzeu through on goal, and Neblu charged out to stop the forward’s attempted chip.
Replacement keeper Antonio Dominique was called into action straight away to save Deon Hotto’s free-kick but Namibia were dealt a blow of their own just minutes later as Prins Tjiueza – one of their top performers in the tournament – was forced off injured
Angola seized control of the match and captain Fredy had a hand in all three goals, teeing up the opener after latching on to a clever through ball from Gilberto and squaring for Dala to tap in.
The Brave Warriors’ woes were compounded when Haukongo, booked early on for handball, got his second yellow card following a trip on Mabululu.
Fredy’s pin-point delivery allowed Dala to head home for his fourth goal of the tournament, with the skipper registering his third assist at the finals.
Gelson Dala (centre, wearing 10) has four goals at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and is one behind top scorer Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea
Peter Shalulile had a chance to reduce the deficit early in the second half, as poor defending from Gaspar presented him with a good chance, but the Namibia captain struck his shot high and over the goal.
Fredy was in the thick of things once more as Angola made it 3-0, with his 40-yard pass finding Dala in space on the left.
The goalscorer turned provider, freeing Mabululu and allowing the striker to curl a composed finish past Namibia goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua and in off the right-hand upright for his third goal at the finals.
Even then Angola showed no signs of sitting back on their lead.
Kazapua made a good stop to deny Angola a fourth goal in the 72nd minute as he saved Jonathan Buatu’s header following a corner, and substitute Zito Luvumbo rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort in stoppage time.
Angola, having topped Group D, registered their first ever knockout win at an Afcon finals, with their previous two quarter-final appearances coming when the tournament had 16 teams.
Despite being knocked out Namibia can take plenty of positives from their campaign, which saw the Brave Warriors register a first ever finals win – a memorable 1-0 victory over Tunisia – and reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Angola
Formation 4-3-3
22Cipriano da Cruz21Melo Afonso6Gaspar3Buatu Mananga13de Jesus Corte Real Carneiro16Kulembe Gomes Ribeiro23da Silva Cafumana20Tualungo Paulo Lameiras7Vieira19Paciência10Muondo Dala
- 22Cipriano da CruzBooked at 17mins
- 21Melo Afonso
- 6Gaspar
- 3Buatu Mananga
- 13de Jesus Corte Real Carneiro
- 16Kulembe Gomes RibeiroSubstituted forCabaça Salvadorat 70’minutes
- 23da Silva Cafumana
- 20Tualungo Paulo LameirasSubstituted forSignori Dominiqueat 20’minutes
- 7VieiraSubstituted forKelianoat 70’minutes
- 19PaciênciaSubstituted forBelaat 84’minutes
- 10Muondo DalaSubstituted forSebastião Luvumboat 84’minutes
Substitutes
- 1Signori Dominique
- 4Keliano
- 5Cunga Balanga
- 9Cabaça Salvador
- 11Mendes João Milson
- 12Manuel Monteiro
- 15Sebastião Luvumbo
- 17Lourenço Pinto de Almeida Paz
- 18Bela
- 25Ferreira dos Santos
Namibia
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Kazapua20Kamberipa12Amutenya21Haukongo4Hanamub18Petrus6Katua9Muzeu10Tjiueza7Hotto13Shalulile
- 1Kazapua
- 20Kamberipa
- 12AmutenyaSubstituted forGebhardtat 60’minutes
- 21HaukongoBooked at 40mins
- 4Hanamub
- 18Petrus
- 6KatuaSubstituted forShitembiat 60’minutes
- 9MuzeuSubstituted forKambatoat 70’minutes
- 10TjiuezaSubstituted forIimbondiat 23’minutesBooked at 63mins
- 7Hotto
- 13Shalulile
Substitutes
- 2Haoseb
- 3Gebhardt
- 5Hambira
- 8Kambato
- 11Iimbondi
- 14Kamatuka
- 15Papama
- 16Ndisiro
- 17Rudath
- 19Shitembi
- 22Nyambe
- 23Maova
Referee:Dahane BeidaAttendance:28,663
Match Stats
Home TeamAngolaAway TeamNamibiaPossessionHome49%Away51%ShotsHome11Away11Shots on TargetHome4Away3CornersHome6Away3FoulsHome14Away20
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Angola 3, Namibia 0.
- 90’+5′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Angola 3, Namibia 0.
- 90’+5′
Post update
Foul by Uetuuru Kambato (Namibia).
- 90’+5′
Post update
Jérémie Bela (Angola) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90’+3′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Peter Shalulile (Namibia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aprocius Petrus with a headed pass.
- 90’+3′
Post update
Aprocius Petrus (Namibia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90’+3′
Post update
Foul by Zine (Angola).
- 90’+2′
Post update
Peter Shalulile (Namibia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90’+2′
Post update
Foul by Eddie (Angola).
- 90’+2′
Post update
Zito Luvumbo (Angola) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Manuel Keliano.
- 90′
Post update
Absalom Iimbondi (Namibia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90′
Post update
Foul by Zine (Angola).
- 89′
Post update
Petrus Shitembi (Namibia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 89′
Post update
Foul by Manuel Keliano (Angola).
- 89′
Post update
Foul by Aprocius Petrus (Namibia).
- 89′
Post update
Manuel Keliano (Angola) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 88′
Post update
Attempt missed. Riaan Hanamub (Namibia) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
- 87′
Post update
Deon Hotto (Namibia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 87′
Post update
Foul by Zine (Angola).
- 87′
Post update
Corner, Namibia. Conceded by António Signori.
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