Africa-Press – Angola. Angolan Gelson Dala was the second top scorer in the African Championship (CAN`2023), with four goals, but the laudatory references about him transcend his deception in goal, essentially encompassing his football quality in general.
The 27-year-old athlete was one goal behind the continental tournament’s top scorer, Emilio Nsue, from Equatorial Guinea, but relegated colossi to lower places such as the Nigerian Victor Osimhen, from Napoli in Italy, voted best African player in 2023 by CAF.
Behind the Angolan, graduated from the 1.o de Agosto school, currently playing for Al-Wakrah, from the first league in Qatar, there were other names such as the Egyptian Mohamed Salah, from Liverpool in England, and the Senegalese Sadio Mané, from Al -Nassr, from Saudi Arabia.
Angola’s goal record (also 4) in a CAN final phase was until then held by Manucho Gonçalves, a feat achieved in the 2008 edition, held in Ghana, being, curiously, also one goal behind the golden boot, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto`o (five).
Dala’s goalscoring qualities have been proven since he progressed in the “Girabola” National Championship. In 2016 he was the top scorer with 23 goals and since becoming international he has revealed himself to be a true finisher.
In the Sporting B team, in which he “played” alternately with the main team and then with other European teams, he gained prominence for the goals he scored.
In 2023, the striker was the third top scorer in the Qatar First Football League, with 15 goals, playing for Al-Wakra.
Overall, the record for goals in a final phase of the African Cup belongs to Ndaye Mulamba (Zaire), with nine accurate shots, in the 1974 competition.
The 34th edition of CAN`2023, played out of season, ended on Sunday (11) with the consecration of hosts Côte d`Ivoire, after a 2-1 victory over Nigeria.
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