By Vera Kwakofi
BBC Sport, Cairo |
 It was a physical contest as Togo lost yet again |
World Cup finalists Angola became the latest team to be knocked out of the African Cup of Nations despite beating Togo 3-2 in the final Group B game in Cairo on Sunday.
The Palancas Negras finished third in the group behind Cameroon and the DR Congo, who edged into the quarter-finals ahead of Angola with a better goal difference.
Angola opened the scoring through Flavio before Kader Coubadja equalised for Togo with a neat finish.
The Palancas Negras went ahead again through Flavio before Cherif Mamam Toure drew the Hawks level.
A stunning late strike from substitute Maurito was not enough to send his side through to the last eight.
Even as the final whistle blew Angola still had a chance of advancing.
There were eight minutes still to be played in the other Group B game with Cameroon leading the DR Congo 2-0, and a third goal for the Indomitable Lions would have seen the Palancas Negras advance.
But no goal came and Angola join Togo, who will also be in Germany in the summer, as well as 2004 runners-up Morocco and Libya in going home early.
Angola opened the scoring in the eighth minute through Flavio, who toe-poked the ball home from an angle strike from eight yards after the Togolese defence attempt to play offside. In the 17th minute a Flavio header fell narrowly missed the goal and minutes later, Akwa could have made it two when an angled shot skimmed the face of goal.
Togo equalised in the 24th minute when Coubadja scored after eluding a challenge from Kali and scooped the ball over Joao Ricardo and the covering Angolan defenders.
A minute earlier Akwa was through on goal but he was harshly adjudged offside.
With both sides evenly matched Angola were given an advantage on 29 minutes when Togo were reduced to 10 men after Kassim Gouzayou was given a red card for a second bookable offence.
Angola took advantage of their numerical strength - Flavio scoring from 10 yards with a shot on the turn after Togo failed to clear a cross.
Cherif Toure Mamam drew Togo level against the run of play, when he lifted the ball over Angolan keeper Ricardo under pressure from Kali.
A third goal by Maurito gave the Palancas Negras hope once again but they could not find a fourth that would have given them a place in the last eight.
Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves:
"Obviously, We are disappointed that at the end we did not qualify for the next round even after we won the game and recorded four points.
"We tried to score more goals especially in the second but luck deserted us.
"Now we will focus fully on the World Cup and hope to prepare for at least a month before the tournament so as to give a good account of ourselves."
Togo coach Stephen Keshi:
"My players did well particularly in the second half when they fought back even when we were a man short. That dismissal really cost us a lot."
MMIX
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