Jacinto Dala played a pivotal role as Angola secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 with a convincing 3-0 victory over Namibia in Bouake.
The turning point in the game occurred when Namibia’s Bethuel Muzeu created a clear-cut chance, leading to Angola’s goalkeeper Neblu being sent off for a foul outside the 18-yard box. Despite being a man down, Angola took the lead through Jacinto Dala, initiated by Gilberto and finished by Gelson Dala.
Namibia also faced a red card situation as Lubeni Haukongo received a second yellow card. From the resulting free kick, Jacinto Dala scored a brilliant header to double Angola’s lead. Jacinto Dala then turned provider, setting up Mabululu for Angola’s third goal, securing their quarter-finals berth for the first time in 14 years.
Namibia’s head coach, Collin Benjamin, acknowledged the challenge after the red card and conceded a well-deserved win to Angola. Pedro Gonçalves, Angola’s head coach, expressed gratitude for the team’s qualification, emphasizing the importance of resilience and correcting mistakes during the challenging match. He recognized the significance of the victory for the people of Angola and expressed optimism about continuing their dream in the tournament.
In response to the accomplishment, Gonçalves stated, “I won’t say we are going to win the trophy, but we are going to continue to dream.” This victory marks Angola’s return to the quarter-finals after 14 years in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.
