Angola became the first team to secure a quarter-final berth at the ongoing African Cup of Nations after edging out Namibia 2-0 in a round of 16 match staged at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Saturday night.The game started in a dramatic fashion when Adilson Cipriano da Cruz was sent off in the 17th minute for handling the ball outside the penalty area in a bid to deny Namibia captain Peter Shalulile. He was adjudged to have denied the Sundowns man a clear scoring chance and was dismissed.##NAJAVA_MECA_7828080##Six minutes later, Namibia midfielder Prins Tjueza was forced off with a swollen ankle, leaving his nation with a big hole to fill in the middle of the park. His place was taken by Absalom Manjana.Despite being a man down, Angola did not look too overwhelmed, and their electric-quick attackers made things hard for the Brave Warriors of Namibia on the break. Against the run of play, a sweeping team move gave Angola the opener. Starman Gelson Dala finished off a Fredy cross from the right with an easy tap-in.Three minutes later, Namibia were also reduced to ten men when Lubeni Haukongo picked up his second booking of the game and had to walk off the pitch, visibly devastated. Three minutes before the interval, Dala got his second of the game and fourth of the tournament. He headed home another Fredy delivery to give his team a cushion heading into the interval.Zizou says no to AlgeriaThe Brave Warriors showed some fighting spirit after the interval, pushing forward in search of goals, but they failed to make the half chances count before Angola once again took charge of the match.Mabululu should have made it 3-0 in the 65th minute, but his attempt from close range went wide. A minute later, he showed his class, scoring a contender for the goal of the tournament with a high-technique goal that curled past the Namibia keeper. Dala set him up for the goal. Ambrosini Salvador should have made it 4-0 moments later, but his header was blocked by the Namibia defense.Angola coach Pedro Gonçalves made late changes withdrawing his scorers perhaps to keep them injury free in readiness for the quarters. They will face the winner of the round of 16 game between Nigeria and Angola that will be played later tonight.AFCON2023: Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue outshining star names at Cup of NationsAFCON 2023- LAST 16Angola 3-0 Namibia/Dala 38, 43 Mabululu 66/23.00: (2.10) Nigeria (3.20) Cameroon (3.80)***odds are subject to change
