Angola held 0-0 by Mauritania

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Jun 29, 2019. 18:40

Angola’s hopes of heading to the top of Group E at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations were stymied by a 0-0 draw with Mauritania at the Suez Stadium on Saturday.

The result sees the Palancas Negras go level with second-placed Tunisia on two points in the group standings, while Al Murabitun pick up their first point of the campaign but remain in fourth spot. The log is topped by Mali on four points.

Mauritania goalkeeper Brahim Souleymane gave his defenders a real fright when he allowed a simple long ball to skip over him in the 11th minute, but luckily for the gloves-man it passed wide of the goal posts.

That signalled the start of sustained dominance from Angola, who created a couple of chances for Djalma Campos in the 15th and 24th minutes, but the attacker was unable to capitalise on either as the Mauritania defence just about held firm.

Al Murabitun’s first real opening arrived in the 31st minute when Moctar El Hacen got on the end of a lofted cross from the left flank, but was unable to test Angola goalkeeper Toni Cabaca with his header.

The first half ended goalless and Angola coach Srdjan Vasiljevic saw out only 10 minutes of the second before making two changes, as Wilson Eduardo and Geraldo Da Costa replaced Mateus Galiano and Fredy Ribeiro respectively.

Yet the first clear chance after the restart went the way of Mauritania in the 60th minute, as a cross from the right found Ismael Diakite in the middle of the penalty area, but his effort on goal was brilliantly blocked by right-back Bruno Gaspar.

Three minutes later Angola blew a great opportunity to open the scoring, with substitute Eduardo somehow missing a virtually open goal from just a few metres out following great set-up play by Jacinto Gelson down the right of the 18-yard area.

Neither team was able to find the game-breaking goal in the remainder of the time, leaving the Palancas Negras and Al Murabitun to settle for a share of the spoils.

Mauritania 0
Angola 0

Mauritania: Souleymane, Diaw, Abeid, Abdoul (Diarra 62’), N’Diaye, Camara (Palaye 70’), Dellahi, El Hacen, Diakite, Ba, Bessam

Angola: Cabaca, Gaspar, Massunguna, Paizo, Bastos, Show, Herenilson, Djalma (Mabululu 78’), Fredy (Geraldo 56’), Gelson, Mateus (Eduardo 56’)

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