Angola and Zimbabwe played to a 1–1 draw in Marrakech, with goals from Gelson Dala and Knowledge Musona keeping both teams’ AFCON 2025 qualification hopes alive.
Angola and Zimbabwe earned their first points of AFCON 2025 following a grueling 1–1 draw at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Friday.
The Palancas Negras opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Gelson Dala capitalized on a clinical through-ball to slot home.
Despite the early setback, Zimbabwe remained resilient, eventually finding an equalizer in first-half stoppage time through a close-range strike by veteran forward Knowledge Musona.
The second half evolved into a tactical battle, with Angola manager Patrice Beaumelle pushing for a winner while Zimbabwe captain Marvelous Nakamba controlled the midfield.
Both sides created significant scoring opportunities, but exceptional saves from Zimbabwe’s goalkeeper Arubi kept the scores level.
The physical intensity of the match was reflected in yellow cards for Zito Luvumbo and Jonah Fabisch as both nations fought desperately to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The result leaves Group B finely balanced after both teams recovered from opening-match defeats.
While neither side secured the win needed to guarantee safety, the hard-fought point ensures that knockout stage qualification remains a possibility heading into the final round of fixtures.
With momentum shifting frequently throughout the ninety minutes, both squads demonstrated the competitive spirit required to navigate the remainder of the group stage.