Angola settled for a point against Zimbabwe in the first match of Round 2 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-1 scoreline, in the match played on Friday afternoon at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.
Both teams entered into the match fighting for survival having lost their opening group B matches 2–1 to South Africa and Egypt respectively.
Despite having played nineteen times since 1985, this was the first-ever meeting between the two nations at an AFCON finals.
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Angola vs Zimbabwe settle for a draw at the 2025 AFCON tourney
After a period of sustained pressure in the opening half ,Gelson Dala broke the deadlock picking up a looped pass from To Carneiro on the edge of the area before hitting powerful strike past Washington Arubi into the near post.
Just as the halftime whistle was approaching in the 45+6 minute , Zimbabwe struck back levelling the scores following a wonderful transition from defence to attack.
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Bill Antonio drifted to the left before delivering a lofted pass into the area that was picked by Knowledge Musona who striked home for his first goal of the 2025 Tournament.
The match would proceed at 1-1 for the halftime break.
Early in the second half, M’Bala Nzola looked certain to score when he rose above the Zimbabwe defense to meet a Fredy corner. He powered a header toward the top corner, but Arubi made a stunning fingertip save to push it onto the crossbar.
Ten minutes later Zito Luvumbo found himself one-on-one after a defensive lapse by Zimbabwe. He tried to slot it low past the keeper, but his shot lacked power and was comfortably blocked by Arubi’s legs.
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With five minutes Prince Dube had a chance to snatch a winner for the Warriors. He cut inside from the left and unleashed a curling effort that beat the keeper but shaved the outside of the post.
In the dying minutes of stoppage time, Gelson Dala nearly secured a brace with a snapshot volley from inside the box, but it flew just inches over the bar for the match to end in a 1-1 stalemate.
Group B action continues today when Egypt face South Africa at the Grand Stade d’Agadir Agadir.
A win for either side will book a slot in the quarterfinal face with a match to play.
Angola vs Zimbabwe AFCON 2025 Group B lineups
Angola Starting XI
Hugo Marques, Clinton Mata, Jonathan Buatu, David Carmo, Tó Carneiro, Manuel Show, Beni Mukendi, Manuel Benson, Fredy, Gelson Dala, M’Bala Nzola.
Zimbabwe Starting XI
Washington Arubi, Emmanuel Jalai, Gerald Takwara, Teenage Hadebe, Divine Lunga, Marvelous Nakamba, Jonah Fabisch, Bill Antonio, Knowledge Musona, Prince Dube, Macauley Bonne.