Gelson Dala increased his Africa Cup of Nations goal count to four by scoring twice for 10-man Angola in a 3-0 victory over Namibia in Bouake on Saturday. Angola, a surprise contender, will face Nigeria or Cameroon in the quarter-finals next Friday. The match saw both teams reduced to 10 men in the first half, with Angola's goalkeeper Neblu and Namibia's defender Lubeni Haukongo receiving red cards.

Angola's winning margin of three goals was a record for them in the Africa Cup of Nations. This victory was unexpected, as Angola had topped their group ahead of Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Algeria, despite low expectations due to their previous tournament record.

Namibia, on the other hand, had struggled in previous appearances at the tournament, managing only two draws and suffering seven losses. The match in Bouake was not one that many would have predicted at the start of the tournament.

The game started with drama as Angola's goalkeeper Neblu was sent off after just 17 minutes for handling the ball outside his area. After a water break in the searing heat, Angola scored two quick goals and Namibia also had a player sent off, reducing both teams to 10 men.

Despite early pressure from Namibia in the second half, Angola extended their lead to three goals on 66 minutes, effectively sealing the victory. Namibia showed resilience in the face of defeat, with a late attempt on goal forcing a spectacular save from Angola's substitute goalkeeper.

In the end, Angola was denied a fourth goal when a shot rebounded off the crossbar in added time.

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