Angola’s CHAN PAMOJA 2024 campaign appeared to be sliding towards premature failure until substitute Kaporal transformed their fortunes with a dramatic late double that stunned Zambia and injected fresh hope into the tournament co-hosted across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Palancas Negras had looked destined for another disappointment when Dominic Chanda’s 73rd-minute opener gave Zambia the lead in their crucial Group A encounter. With just one point from their opening two matches, Angola faced the grim prospect of virtual elimination from a tournament they had hoped would showcase their continental credentials.
Instead, Kaporal’s intervention in the final 11 minutes – first equalising through a composed finish from Gogoró’s pass, then scrambling home the winner in a crowded penalty area – has completely transformed the group dynamics and given Angola genuine hope of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since the tournament’s inception.
The victory lifts Angola to four points from three matches, three behind group leaders Kenya following their earlier triumph over Morocco. More significantly, it demonstrates the kind of fighting spirit that the organisers of the delayed championship hoped would characterise the competition when it finally launched in August after being postponed from February.
For Zambia, the defeat represents a crushing blow to their already slim qualification hopes. Avram Grant’s side had shown genuine promise in taking the lead through their first goal of the tournament, but their inability to close out the victory leaves them pointless after two matches and facing the daunting task of beating both Kenya and DR Congo to have any chance of progression.
The opening exchanges suggested this would be a cagey affair between two sides desperate for points. Zambia’s Kelvin Kampamba provided the early excitement, forcing Angola goalkeeper Neblú into two crucial saves within the opening minute, whilst Angola’s Anderson Cruz and Vidinho both went close with efforts that narrowly missed the target.
The breakthrough, when it came, seemed to favour the Chipolopolo. Chanda’s opportunistic finish from a scrambled set-piece gave Zambia the lead they had craved, offering hope that their tournament campaign might finally ignite after their disappointing 3-1 opening defeat to DR Congo.
Yet Angola’s response exemplified the unpredictable nature that has already defined this tournament across the three East African co-hosting nations. Coach Pedro Gonçalves’ decision to introduce Kaporal proved inspired, with the substitute immediately adding the urgency and directness that Angola’s attack had been lacking.
His first goal – a calm finish following excellent work from Gogoró – demonstrated the composure of a player unburdened by the pressure that had seemingly affected his teammates. The equaliser breathed new life into Angola’s tournament aspirations and set up a grandstand finish that neither side could have anticipated.
Kaporal’s winner seven minutes later was scrappier but no less crucial, with the striker reacting fastest in a crowded penalty area to bundle home what could prove to be one of the tournament’s most significant goals. The strike sent the small but vocal Angolan contingent into raptures and left Zambia shell-shocked at how quickly their advantage had evaporated.
Zambia’s desperate search for a late equaliser epitomised their tournament frustrations. Jackson Kampamba’s close-range miss and Chanda’s stoppage-time header that failed to trouble Neblú were symptomatic of a side that continues to create chances but lacks the clinical edge required at this level of continental competition.
The result dramatically reshapes Group A ahead of the final round of fixtures. Angola now sit in second place with genuine aspirations of reaching the knockout stages, whilst Zambia face the mathematical reality of needing maximum points from their remaining matches to have any hope of qualification.
For Angola, this represents validation of their decision to embrace CHAN as a pathway to continental prominence. The Palancas Negras had struggled to make an impact in previous tournaments, but their fighting spirit in adversity suggests they may yet emerge as genuine contenders for a place in the latter stages.
The victory sets up a potentially decisive encounter with DR Congo in their next fixture, with both sides now level on three points but Angola carrying the superior momentum. Should they carry forward the spirit demonstrated in their comeback against Zambia, the Palancas Negras may yet transform what appeared to be a failing campaign into something altogether more memorable.
Zambia, meanwhile, must regroup quickly ahead of their daunting clash with group leaders Kenya. Grant’s side have shown glimpses of quality throughout their two matches but continue to demonstrate the kind of defensive frailties that have undermined their previous CHAN campaigns.
The dramatic conclusion to this fixture perfectly encapsulates the tournament’s capacity for the unexpected – exactly what the co-hosting nations hoped would define their delayed but ultimately successful staging of African football’s premier domestic-based championship.
