Africa-Press – Angola. The National Team missed one of the objectives of the 25th edition of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in senior men’s handball, after losing yesterday, 23-24, against a similar team from Cape Verde, in a match referring to the quarter-finals, played in Hassan Mostafa Pavilion in Cairo, Egypt.
Improving or maintaining fourth place in 2020 was one of the goals for “operation” Cairo. With the defeat, Angola still has the possibility of guaranteeing a spot for the 2023 World Cup, to be held in Poland and Sweden
Cape Verde ends to make history, as he plays for the first time in the semi-final, this time against Morocco, and guarantees his presence in the World Cup. After a seven-meter free-kick achieved in the last seconds by winger Elizandro Garcia, central Manuel Nascimento was unable to to convert into a goal, after having converted when it had not been authorized by the referees.
If the center had scored, extra time was guaranteed, and eventually the game’s history would be different. The “duel” was marked by balance, in the first minutes Angola failed two attacks in a row, and two athletes from Cape Verde were suspended for two minutes.
Then full-back Declerk Sibo opened the scoring, but the opposite side responded in the next minute. At 15, Cape Verde got the advantage of two goals, 10-8. The additions of Edvaldo Ferreira “Moreno” and Vlademiro Paulo gave another boost to the attack.
Edmilson Gonçalves, elected Most Valuable Player (MVP), Paulo Moreno and Elly Semedo motivated their teammates in the Cape Verdean combined. At halftime, 13-12, in favor of Cape Verde. In the complementary stage, the two teams continued to outline the technical and tactical arguments, however, with greater progression of Jjubomir Obradovic’s pupils.
Then there was a break in both sets, as the two teams went five minutes without scoring. At 15, Cape Verde was winning by four goals, 18-14. Within the national “seven” nervousness began to become evident.
José Pereira “Kidó” called the players and reduced it to a goal, 19-20. The last minutes were played to exhaustion, with the protagonists receiving applause from the audience, but the victory smiled for the Cape Verdeans.
Today, at 2:00 pm, Angola plays the fifth to eighth place in the table against Guinea. In the other match, the Democratic Republic of Congo faces Algeria.
Moroccans defeat Guineans
Morocco confirmed yesterday its presence in the semi-finals of the CAN and the 2023 World Cup, thanks to the 28-24 victory against Guinea, in a match played at the Hassan Mostafa Pavilion, Cairo, Egypt.
Moroccans and Guineans entered the court motivated to stamp the pass for the next stage of the competition. With the defenses supplanting the attacks, the two teams were evenly matched in the different aspects of the game.
With stop and answer, where balance prevailed, played 30 minutes into the first half the score was 13-14, in favor of the Moroccans. In the complementary stage, the opponents entered with the same determination, however, with less rise of the Guineans.
Coaches Nouredine Bouhdioui and Kevin Decaux called their teams in order to better interpret the tactical systems. The call had greater effect on the Moroccan team, having established the partial of three goals (25-22), in the 15th minute.
The Guinean side lacked audacity to undo the disadvantage, while the Maghrebs had the discernment to expand with another goal.
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