Photo credit: CAF Media
It was total entertainment on Monday evening at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran as Angola and Mali played for a high scoring draw.
A six goal thriller between the two African giants ended in a 3-3 stalemate.
The two sides were playing their opening group D fixture at the ongoing TotalEnergies African Nations championship (CHAN).
Laurindo Aurelio scored a brace in the first stanza and a second half strike by Viera Miguel early into the second half for Angola
However, Mali through Haidou Sinyako, Yoro Diaby and Ousmane Coulibaly occasionally regrouped to stage brave fight to take away a point.
In the 12th minute, Eddie Afonso delivered a well laid cross to Laurindo Aurelio who slid the ball into the lower right corner of the posts to earn Angola a 1-0 lead.
Mali quickly responded with endless attacks for an equalizer which they realized in the 23rd minute through Haidou Sinayoko.
Angola shortly regained the lead after lost concentration from the Mali defence and Aurelio registered his brace when he headed onto a delightful cross to reclaim Angola’s lead to settle for a 2-1 score at the break.
As Mali pushed more numbers forward in quest for an equalizer, Angola’s Aurelio Laurindo launched a deadly counter attack with a brilliant ball to Viera Miguel to net the 3rd goal in the 73rd minute.
Malians were not spirit dampen by the goal and continued to attack and hence their efforts were rewarded through a Diaby Yoro header off Ousmane Coulibaly ball from a corner kick to make it 3-2 with just 12 minutes to play for.
Quickly after their second goal, a composed and calm Osusmane Coulibaly shot on the second attempt after a block from the Manual Cunha to level matters as the two sides drew 3-3 in a six goal thriller.
Angola will face Mauritania on Friday, 20th January as Mali plot against Mauritania on Tuesday, 24th January for their second fixtures.
Both games are to be held at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran.
