Angola booked their place in the second round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 2-1 (3-1 on aggregate) win over Gambia at Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda on Tuesday evening.

Following a narrow 1-0 victory at the Independence Stadium in Bakau last week, the Southern African nation made it two wins from two qualifiers to navigate their way into the group stages.

Palancas Negras opened the scoring in the 41st minute through Egypt-based Geraldo who fired a ferocious right-footed shot into the corner of the net.

Gambia, though, were not going down without a fight and scored a vital away goal of their own in the 65th minute. Assan Ceesey with the finish following a comedy of errors committed by the Angolan defence.

Fabio Abreu, though, restored Angola’s lead three minutes later to keep the hosts’ – who last qualified for the 2006 world showpiece in Germany – hopes of reaching the 2022 World Cup in Qatar alive.

Soka25east.com