Angola choose the wrong day to put up a Luke-warm performance and it cost them a place in the Orange Africa Nations Cup after the 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast opened the door for Sudan 2-1 winners over Burkina Faso to pip Palancas Negras at the post. Angola finished on four points with Sudan but the Desert Hawks’ scored enough goals to overtake Angola
Ivory Coast made several changes to the team that started the first two matches with quarter final place already assured. The changed Ivorian side proved a handful for Angola who just did not bring their A game on the night. In the end the Palancas Negras were so disjointed that they even contributed to their own downfall with defender Dani Massunguna in a miscommunication beat his own goalkeeper with a header that Wilfred Bony gladly helped on for Ivory Coast’s second goal.
Before that Emmanuel Eboue had put Ivory Coast in the lead in the 33rd minute from just a meter out after Angolan defender Miguel had failed to clear from a cross and had the ball stuck between his legs and when the ball fell kindly to Eboue he put it away.
Angola had possession for a good part of the game and had some chances too but it was not the Angola that imposed its style in the early games. Palancas Negras was largely unchanged side with only two players, Wilson in goal for suspended Carlos Fernandes and Dede coming in for veteran Flavio. The cohesion and usual sharpness was lacking and star striker Manucho was quiet by his standards. Even when down by two goals the urgency did not seem to be a priority for Angola and Angola coach Lito brought in Jose Vunguidica for Djalma and the change did breathe some life into the attack but the real threat for goals was still missing.
It was Ivory Coast who almost added to the score Bamba missed with his head from meters out after a flick from Lolo. At the other end Mateus wanted more time when he had a chance in Ivorian box and the delay led to recovery by defenders and Angola only got a corner.
There were a few more chances for both sides as the game opened up with Angola perhaps aware of Sudan’s lead went in search of a goal which wasn’t coming. Manucho‘s head back across goal found no taker.
Didier Drogba came on for Ivory Coast towards the co-favourites made sure they finished top of the group on maximum points and will now meet co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in the quarter final while Sudan who edged Angola to the second place face Zambia in the other quarter final.