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AFCON 2023: Another night of upset as Antelopes of Angola hold Desert Foxes of Algeria

Posted : 16 January 2024

In a dramatic day, the Desert Foxes of Algeria, the 2019 AFCON Champions, had their own fair share of upsets as the more resolute Antelopes of Angola tamed the AFCON favorites with a 1-1 stalemate at Stade Bouaké in Ivory Coast.


It was a night of pain for the Foxes and their fans and a joyful celebration for the Antelopes and their supporters. All 19,740 fans present at the stadium celebrated Angolans against the Algerians.


Qatar-based Baghdad Bounejah showed fleet footedness, receiving a pass from M. Belaili and scoring at the 18th minute. However, Angola refused the underdog tag despite a significant numerical difference in FIFA rankings between the two countries.

 

Algeria


Ranked 117, Angola was able to tame a team ranked 30th in the world, a team consistently present at continental finals with routine podium finishes.


The bold move paid off in the 68th minute when pressure piled on the Algerian defense, and a panicking defender fouled the Angolan attacker, earning a penalty. Agostinho Paciencia, Egypt’s Al-Ittihad sensation, made no mistake in putting the ball at the back of the net.


It was a dramatic goal as the stadium roared, witnessing another soccer giant forced onto its knees.


The Algerians tried their usual North African tricks, falling down and pressuring the referee for penalties, but he would not cooperate. The Angolans frustrated the Algerians with close tackling, man-to-man tackles, reducing space, and disallowing time to think, leading to the slang, "Only the Devil can think straight in hell."


Perhaps the compensation for Algeria is that the former Manchester City forward, now with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, was named Man of the Match.


Algeria and Angola have met twice before: first in a World Cup qualifier on June 5, 2005, which Angola won 2-1; the second in an AFCON match on January 19, 2010, which ended goalless.


The Black Stable Antelopes of Angola, ranked 117, have never had a podium finish.

 

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