Angola thrash Mauritius

Angola, fielding a weakened side, were forced to fight back after conceding a goal 75 seconds into the match with Akwa completing his hat-trick inside 55 minutes.

Debutants Mateus and substitute Love added the last two goals to book a place for Angola in Sunday's final of the mini-tournament in Lesotho.

They will play the hosts, who beat Mozambique 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in the second semi-final.

Angola fielded two debutants in Mateus and Ze Augusto and handed an opportunity to several other fringe players but were stunned Jerry Louis's goal in the second minute when he sped through the defence to latch onto a probing pass from Giovany Jeannot.

Angola were level straight from the kick off when Akwa headed home a corner.

Mauritius's porous defence presented the former Benfica player with a second goal in the 28th minute when he knocked in Ze Kalanga's pass.

His hat-trick was competed when his free kick took a deflection off the Mauritius wall and looped into the back of the net 10 minutes into the second half.

For Akwa, who has been without a club since his contract at Al Wakhda of Qatar was cancelled in February, the hat-trick reinforced his dominant role in the side.

"I have continued to work and the fact that I don't have a club doesn't matter. I still give my best efforts to the national side," he said.

Coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves, although content with the result, said he was unhappy with the way his players slacked off in the second half against timid opponents.

"But this is all very good preparation for the World Cup," he said.

Angola meet Iran, Mexico and Portugal in Group D at the World Cup in Germany starting on June 9.

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