Angola sealed their place in the Africa Nations Championship quarter-finals with a goalless draw against Congo at Stade Adrar on Wednesday.
The Angolans came into this tie knowing that a draw against already qualified Congo would be enough to get the remaining quarter final place, and they did just that after Cameroon and Burkina Faso settled for a 1-1 draw in the other Group D match in Tangiers.
The Palancas Negras looked ponderous in a first half dominated by Congo and had Daniel Joao to thank for not going behind on at least two occasions.
They hit the post early in the game and in the dying moments of the encounter George Kader scooped the ball off the goal-line to keep the match scoreless.
Angola too had their moments with skipper Ricardo Estevao hitting the side netting and Calleso Luis cashing his rasping shot against the crossbar all in the first half.
Late sub Vladmir Felix even came very close to emerging as the match hero in the final moments of the game.
In the second half, Congo played more on the offensive but chances from Matheus Botamba,Junior Makiese and George Kader could not hit the net as Angola goalie Landu Mavanga was superb in post.
The Angolans relied on the counter attack as their way of going forward in the second half but they also failed to score.
Both they and Angola advance without conceding a goal.
Congo: Mouko, Kibamba, Bissiki, Botamba (Mboungou 69’), Ngouala (Ngombe 61’), Mouzita, Gandze, Rozan, Mfoutou, Bidimbou, Ondongo
Angola: Landu, Estevao, Diniz, Macunho, Luis, Cabungula (Kaporal 65’), Quibeto, Ricardo (Va 76’), Justo (Chilo 82’), Gaspar, Carmo