June 17, (THEWILL) – Angola kept their hopes of qualifying for the TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations alive with a hard-fought victory over the Central Africa Republic (CAR) in Douala.
Felicio Mendes ‘Milson’ Joao emerged as the hero, scoring four minutes from time to secure a crucial 2-1 win for Angola. The result propelled Angola to second place in Group E with eight points, one ahead of CAR. In the high-stakes encounter, both teams knew that only a victory would suffice. It was CAR, who faced disappointment on their home turf, as their dream of securing their first-ever qualification to the tournament was shattered.
After Gaspar Kialonga gave Angola an early lead, CAR’s superstar captain, Geoffrey Kondogbia, equalised in the second half, igniting hopes of a comeback. However, their task became even more challenging when goalkeeper Dominique Junior Youfeigane received a red card in the 70th minute, leaving them with 10 men trying to hold on to the draw.
Despite the setback, CAR remained resilient, especially after Kondogbia’s goal brought them level just a minute after the restart. However, their hopes were dashed in the 86th minute when Milson found the back of the net from a corner, taking advantage of a misjudgment by substitute goalkeeper, Alladoum Kolimba. As the final whistle blew, Angola celebrated a crucial victory that puts their destiny in their own hands.
In the upcoming September matches, a win against bottom-placed Madagascar would secure their qualification, while CAR must defeat Ghana and rely on a defeat of Angola to keep their hopes alive.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.