Angola-Mali Caps Off Roller Coaster Weekend

The tragic events in Cabinda on Friday that left several members of the Togolese camp injured, many shaken, and, unfortunately, a few dead have been well documented by bloggers much more eloquent and thorough than I, but no one can argue that the incident has cast a cloud over Angola and international soccer before a ball was ever kicked. Rightfully so, Friday and Saturday were days of mourning, questioning, and uncertainty for many, and Togo went back and forth on whether or not to stay and play. But Sunday was a day of celebration and beginnings, as fans in Luanda christened both a new stadium and a new edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. Throughout the pageantry of the opening ceremony, the crowd of 50,000 was boisterous and enthused, creating an atmosphere fit for the continent's biggest stage and showing off Angola's good side.

The opening match also did its best to help bring some of the attention back to the playing field, as the hosts and Mali combined for one of the best Africa Cup of Nations games in recent memory. Though the match started slowly with some choppy play and missed connections, the fans at Estadio 11 de Novembro continued to urge on their respective teams as both sides battled for the opener. Unfortunately for the Mali fans who made the long trek down from the Sahara to attend, it was Angola who got on the scoresheet first, as striker Flavio Amado got on the end of a bending cross to head home from close range and send the home crowd into a frenzy.

The red and black clad fans barely halted their celebration when Flavio got them out of their seats once more, this team streaking in front of a defender to power home another header to double the Black Antelopes' lead. Manager Manuel Jose went to the locker room a happy man, as his side held a commanding lead with just 45 minutes left to play. Mali manager Stephen Keshi, meanwhile, was searching for answers in hopes of earning at least a point.

Things only got worse for Keshi and company, however, as two fouls inside the box led to two Angolan penalties in the 67th and 74th minute. The home team capitalized on these opportunities, opening up a seemingly insurmountable 4-0 lead with just 15 minutes to play.

If you're like me, you foolishly dismissed this match as a done deal, a fantastically emphatic opening result for Angola in front of a sell-out crowd. But, as Yogi Berra once said, it ain't over til it's over. Despite the long odds against earning even a draw, the Eagles of Mali continued to fight on valiantly. Their efforts paid off in the 79th minute, when Seydou Keita poked home a loose ball after a scrum for a ball that Angolan keeper Carlos misplayed off a corner kick. 10 minutes later, Mali found another goal, as Frederic Kanoute rose majestically to snap a header into the corner from 14 yards out.

Nevertheless, Angola still seemed poised for a victory, taking a two goal lead into stoppage time. But the roller coaster of emotions was still in motion, as Mali scored two goals deep into stoppage time within a minute of each other to level the score and silence most of the previously vociferous fans. Mustapha Yatabare's sliding goal in the 94th minute capped off one of the biggest comebacks in ACN history, stunning all in attendance and setting the bar high for the rest of the tournament.

As hard as it is to think about soccer after Friday's tragic events, games like today's remarkable draw help bring the focus back to the playing field and away from the politics, tragedies, and violence of the Cabinda enclave. It would irresponsible for me to say that any game can outweigh what happened two days ago, and I want to make it clear that I am in no way intending to say that. All I mean is that this tournament was supposed to be a celebration of Angola, Africa, and soccer, and more matches like the one we saw today will help bring those things back into the picture (though they will never be able to overshadow the complex situation in Cabinda and the terrible attack on the Togo national team). That was more or less a ramble, but I really don't want to be misunderstood on this point.

If you missed the match, here are the highlights:



Be sure to tune in to ACN action tomorrow, particularly to get a preview of a World Cup opponent for the USMNT, as Algeria squares off against Malawi. Elsewhere, Didier Drogba and Cote d'Ivoire play Burkina Faso in a World Cup qualification rematch. And even if the score looks like it's getting out of hand, I advise you to watch until the end. You don't want to miss out on another epic finish.