Angola and Zimbabwe in 1-1 draw at Cup of Nations

MARRAKECH, Morocco – Angola and Zimbabwe each earned their first point at the Africa Cup of Nations following a 1-1 draw on Dec 26 but the result leaves both facing early elimination.

They both lost their opening Group B clashes and are now left with difficult assignments in their last matches next week, which they will effectively need to win if they are to progress.

Angola went ahead in the 24th minute when To Carneiro’s chipped pass fell perfectly for striker Gelson Dala, who ran onto it and squeezed the ball in at the near post as Zimbabwe’s defence proved too slow in closing down.

There was a lengthy delay soon after, as Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques suffered a cut above his eye after a clash of heads with Zimbabwe’s Divine Lunga.

He was bandaged up and continued but in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the end of the first he was beaten, as Zimbabwe’s veteran striker Knowledge Musona equalised.

It came at the end of a quick counter-attack with a long ball from defence cleared to Bill Antonio, who hit a cross field pass for Musona to finish.

Angola defender David Carmo cleared off the line twice in the space of a minute on the cusp of the final 10 minutes, first when Zimbabwe substitute Tawanda Chirewa had his shot stopped by Hugo Marques, with the ball spinning back towards goal before being cleared.

From the resultant corner, Carmo was there again to deny Gerald Takwara at the back post with a timely interception.

Angola now go up against group top seeds Egypt in Agadir on Dec 29, while Zimbabwe take on neighbours South Africa in Marrakech at the same time.

South Africa beat Angola 2-1 in their opening game before Egypt came from behind to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 on Dec 22.

Later on Dec 26,

Egypt beat South Africa 1-0

in Agadir in their second Group B clash to qualify for the knockput phase. REUTERS