Africa-Press – Angola. Angola and Maurutânia face each other this Saturday, at 6 pm, at the Peace Stadium, in Bouaké, for the 2nd round (group D) of CAN`2023, which takes place in Côte d`Ivoire, in a reunion six years later.
The last clash between these two teams dates back to December 10, 2018, the day on which Angola achieved a significant 4-1 victory, in the second leg of the CAN`2019 qualifiers, played in Egypt. In total they have played on four occasions.
Of the scorers in that challenge, only Gelson Dala remains active. The Angolan striker scored in the 79th minute to close the score, after goals from Mateus Galiano (12 15′) and Djalma Campos, in the 51st minute. The opponent’s goal of honor was scored by Hacem El Id, after two minutes.
The history of clashes between Palancas Negras (named after the genus of antelope – 33rd in the African ranking) and Mourabitounes (reference to an ancient dynasty in the region – 22nd) records two equalities and one victory for each.
Before the rout (4-1), at Estádio 11 de Novembro, in Luanda, the National Team lost away from home, by 0-1, in 2018, in the first leg of the race for Egypt’s CAN, followed by two draws to zero balls in 2019 and 2023, the latter in January for CHAN, in Algeria.
Present in this Nations Cup that Côte d`Ivoire hosts in five cities, the national team seeks to equal or improve the quarter-finals of the Ghana`2008 and Angola`2010 editions in nine appearances.
In this 34th African Championship, Mauritania is seeking passage to the round of 16, in its third participation.
Angola started the competition in the best possible way by drawing 1-1 with candidate Algeria, in the first round of group D.
Led by Luso Pedro Gonçalves, the Palancas Negras now face a Mauritania team that, in theory, is the most fragile team in the series, which also includes Burkina Faso, aware that a victory will take them very close to the round of 16.
Mourabitounes started the event on the wrong foot, losing the match against a more experienced Burkina Faso (0-1) with more athletes at a high level, especially on the Old Continent.
Amir Abdou’s men are thus forced to win this Saturday’s duel, otherwise they will be in a very difficult situation in terms of qualification, as their last match will be against Algeria, one of the candidates for the title.
Before the clash between Angola (second with one point) and Mauritania (fourth with zero), Algeria (third with one) and Burkina Faso (first with three) face off at 3 pm in the same group D.
Angola team:
Goalkeepers: Neblú (1.o de Agosto), Gelson (Interclube), Kadu (Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal) and Dominique (Etoile Corouge, Switzerland).
Defenses: Tó Carneiro, Eddie Afonso, Inácio dos Santos and Quinito (Petro de Luanda), Jonathan Buatu (Valenciennes, Switzerland), Kialonda Gaspar (Estrela da Amadora, Portugal), Loide Augusto (Alanyasport, Turkey), Núrio Fortuna (Gent, Belgium).
Midfielders: Fredy (Eyupspor, Turkey), Beni (Casa Pia, Portugal), Bruno Paz (Konaysport, Turkey), Keliano Manuel (Estrela da Amadora, Portugal), Show (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Estrela (Erzurumsport, Turkey).
Forwards: Zine (AEK Athens, Greece), Mabululu (Ittihad Alexandria, Egypt), Milson (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel), Gelson Dala (Al Wakrah, Qatar), Jerémi Bela (Clermont, France), Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari, Italy ), Gilberto (Petro from Luanda), Depú (Gil Vicente from Portugal) and Francisco Sacalumbo “Banza” (Anorthosis from Cyprus).
Coach: Pedro Gonçalves (Portuguese)
Mauritania team:
Goalkeepers: Babacar Niasse (En Avant of French Ligue 2), N. Diaw (FC Tevragh-Zeïne of Mauritania), M.Diaye (no club).
Defenses: Aly (FC UTA Arad of Romanian League II), L. Bá (Nogometni Klub Varaždin of Croatian I League), B. N ́ Diaye (Al Quwa Al Jawiya of Iraqi Super Lida), I. Keita (TP Mazxembe from DRC’s top league), N. ElAbd (Nouhadibou from Mauritania’s I league), K. Biaw (Al-Hilal Omburmam from Sudan’s top league) and H. Houbeib (Al Zawaraa from Iraq’s Super Lida).
Midfielders: Abdallahi (AC Bellinzona from the second league in Switzerland), B. Camara (FC Villefranche from the third league in France), G.Fofana (Doxa Katokopias from Lida in Cyprus), O. Gassoma (Chateauroux from the third league in France), M.Bodda (Nouhadibou from the 1st League of Mauritania), M. Dellahi (Al Hudod from the Iraqi Super League), Oumar Ngom (Pau FC from the 2nd League of France), S. Mohamed Abd (Nouhadibou from the 1st League of Mauritania), S. Amar (Nouhadibou from the 1st league of Mauritania) and E.Bá (Nouhadibou from the 1st league of Mauritania).
Forwards: Koita (Sint-Truidense VVda I League of Belgium), A. Kamara (Al Jazira FC of the main Championship of Saudi Arabia), Ibnou Bà (Concarneau of League II of France), Souley (Dienze of the II Division of Belgium), S. Doukara (no club), Idrissa (Al Mesaimeer of the Qatari second division) and H. Tanjy (no club).
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