AFCON 2025: Trio of Kenyan referees oversee Angola's draw against Zimbabwe

Angola and Zimbabwe battled out to a 1-1 draw in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group B match played on Friday, 26 December at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.

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This was the second match for both Angola and Zimbabwe after they suffered 2-1 defeats in their opening matches against South Africa and Egypt, respectively.

The two sides were therefore eyeing a win that would increase their chances of qualification to the round of 16.

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In a more special manner, the encounter was overseen by Kenyan match officials. Peter Kamaku served as the centre referee and was joined by Gilbert Cheruiyot and Stephen Yiembe as the first and second assistant referees, respectively.

The first minutes of the proceedings were even as both teams struggled to control the game and launch attacks, but were limited to midfield battles.

As the game went past the quarter-hour mark, Angola started asserting their dominance in the match with captain Fredy putting the Zimbabwean defense under immense pressure.

The Palancas Negras made good use of their dominance in the 24th minute when To Carneiro picked a ball on the left side and looped it to Gelson Dala, who opened his body and unleashed a shot that beat goalkeeper Washington Arubi in his near post to give Angola the lead.

Zimbabwe got two successive chances to equalise in the 29th and 34th minutes, but former Anderlecht forward Knowledge Musona’s free kicks were too poor to cause any harm.

As the match progressed towards halftime and into added minutes, Zimbabwe thought they got a penalty in the 48th minute for a foul on Musona, but Kamaku could hear none of it as the touch was too soft.

The lively Musona also got to the end of a cutback from a corner, but his goal-bound shot was blocked by the Angolan defense.

For his persistence in knocking on the Angolan defense, the door was finally opened for Musona in the sixth minute of first-half added time.

Bill Antonio received a long ball on the left side of attack and, on his second touch, picked out Musona on the right side, who controlled it beautifully and struck a low shot past Hugo Marques to level the scores as the halftime whistle blew shortly thereafter.

In the second half, Zimbabwe came out as a more rejuvenated side than they did in the first half, but were also cautious enough not to be found flat-footed by the Angolans.

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The best chance of the half came in the 62nd minute when Zimbabwe, on a quick counterattack and a two versus two situation, Macauley Bonne, on the right side of attack, delivered a low cross that was met by second-half substitute Ishamel Wadi, but his shot was weak and comfortably saved by Marques.

The rest of the match saw both sides push for a winner, but neither could get it, and they settled for a draw.

From the result, the two nations remain at the bottom of Group B with a single point, which now complicates their qualification to the round of 16.