Angola and Zimbabwe played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in Group B at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Marrakech, with both sides earning their first points of the tournament. The match showcased attacking flair, defensive heroics, and veteran leadership from star forwards Gelson Dala and Knowledge Musona.
Gelson Dala Opens the Scoring
Angola’s talismanic forward Gelson Dala, who scored four goals at the 2023 Afcon finals, gave the Palancas Negras the lead with a clinical finish. Capitalizing on a chipped delivery from To Carneiro, Dala rifled the ball into the net as part of a slick team move, marking his 16th international goal in 46 appearances.
Dala’s strike highlighted Angola’s attacking intent, as coach Patrice Beaumelle, who previously lifted the Afcon trophy as assistant with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, looked to build momentum for the group stage.
Knowledge Musona Levels for Zimbabwe
Just before halftime, Zimbabwe’s returning legend Knowledge Musona brought the Warriors level with a composed finish. Receiving an arrowed pass from Bill Antonio, Musona controlled expertly before slotting home, demonstrating why the 35-year-old forward remains a crucial figure for Zimbabwe despite his brief retirement in 2022.
Zimbabwe’s goalkeeper Washington Arubi made key saves in the second half, including a close-range stop from Jonathan Buatu and a curling strike from Milson. His efforts, alongside Hugo Marques’s outstanding reaction saves for Angola, ensured the teams shared the points.
Key Moments and Defensive Heroics
The match was characterized by end-to-end action and defensive resilience:
- Jonathan Buatu narrowly missed restoring Angola’s lead after David Carmo’s knockdown.
- Hugo Marques tipped a late strike from Tawanda Chirewa over the bar.
- Carmo blocked a near-certain goal from Prince Dube following a corner.
- Arubi denied another late threat from Fredy’s free-kick, keeping Zimbabwe in the game.
Both sides will now need positive results in their final group-stage matches to remain in contention for the knockout phase. Angola face Egypt in Agadir, while Zimbabwe take on South Africa in Marrakech.
Implications for Group B
The draw leaves both teams in need of a win to boost their chances of qualifying as one of the four best third-placed teams in the six-group tournament. Egypt or Bafana Bafana will secure progression if either side wins their upcoming Group B fixture on Friday, 26 December (15:00 GMT).
Zimbabwe coach Mario Marinica emphasized tactical compactness and game management following their 2-1 opening defeat to Egypt. Defender Divine Lunga and Musona returned from injury, while winger Antonio and forward Macauley Bonne were also in the starting lineup.
Angola’s Beaumelle saw his side create several opportunities but could not break down Zimbabwe’s defense, leaving both teams reliant on favorable results in their concluding matches.
Player Highlights
- Gelson Dala (Angola) – 16th international goal, key attacking presence
- Knowledge Musona (Zimbabwe) – Veteran forward, expertly controlled and finished
- Washington Arubi (Zimbabwe) – Crucial saves to preserve the draw
- Hugo Marques (Angola) – Vital reflex stops and defensive leadership
Looking Ahead
With both Angola and Zimbabwe still in contention, their final Group B matches on Monday, 29 December, are crucial for Afcon 2025 knockout stage hopes. A win could secure one of the four best third-place spots, while failure would likely end their campaigns.
Fans can expect high-intensity matches as both Southern African hopefuls aim to pull off late upsets against Egypt and South Africa, keeping the Group B standings wide open heading into the final fixtures.
Leave a Reply