Aliou Cissé’s First XI with Angola Ends in Draw Against Mauritania
In his first match at the helm of Angola, Aliou Cissé will have to wait a bit longer for his first victory. On Friday night in Casablanca, the Palancas Negras were held to a 1-1 draw by Mauritania in a friendly that had a cruel twist for the Senegalese coach.
Having taken charge of the Angolan national team two months ago after his stint in Libya, the former coach of the Senegal Lions hoped to kick off his journey with a win. His team believed they could achieve that until they faltered in the dying moments of the match.
After a balanced first half, Mauritania showed moments of danger, putting pressure on the Angolan defense. The Mourabitounes even hit the post and called for a penalty after a controversial challenge on Djeidi Gassama.
Despite these warnings, Angola took the lead thanks to Keliano, who scored in the 86th minute. This goal seemed to secure victory for Aliou Cissé’s men, who managed their slim lead in the final minutes.
But Mauritania never gave up. In stoppage time, Idrissa Thiam popped up to net the equalizer in the 91st minute, denying the Angolans a win that seemed within reach.
Despite the disappointing result, this first outing offers some glimmers of hope for Aliou Cissé. The coach had to deal with several key absences, including Clinton Mata, Núrio Fortuna, Gelson Dala, Zito Luvumbo, and Mbala Nzola.
This match primarily aimed to lay the groundwork for his game plan and assess certain players ahead of upcoming official fixtures.
On the other hand, Mauritania can take pride in their response and mindset. The Mourabitounes will continue their preparation with another friendly against Niger on June 8 in Casablanca.
For Aliou Cissé, this first match in charge of Angola ends in a points share, but it already provides several lessons for the future of his tenure.
