Kenyans breathed a heavy sigh of relief after Angola’s last-gasp goal on Thursday evening was disallowed. Images from Angola’s disallowed goal vs Kenya. Angola thought they had won the game after substitute Joa Chingando Manha beautifully nodded the ball past Bryne Omondi in the last minute. It was a tense affair at the Kasarani Stadium as Harambee Stars battled to get a result after playing with 10 men for over 70 minutes. Why Marvin Nabwire was sent off vs Angola Marvin Nabwire was sent off for an early shower after he was adjudged to have denied Angola a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
The sending-off forced head coach Benni McCarthy to rework his tactics as everyone dug deep to keep a dangerous Angola at bay. Despite being on the back foot for the better part of the game, Kenya had good chances to win the game as well, but failed to take them. Angola’s chance for a perfect smash and grab came in the last minute of added time when Ben Stanely lost the ball up the pitch during a Kenyan counter. Angola quickly countered the counter before a ball was swung in, which found Manha near the edge of the area. The Wiliete Benguela forward beautifully evaded Alphonce Omija before planting the ball past Omondi, breaking the hearts of the multitude of fans in Kasarani. The goal provoked crazy reactions from the Angolan bench, with head coach Pedro Goncalves falling to his knees. Fans started streaming out of the stadium, thinking that Kenya had already lost the game.
However, after the Angola players were ushered back onto the pitch, the centre referee, Sadou Ali, gestured that there was an offside in the build-up and thus the goal was not going to stand. Harambee Stars captain Aboud Omar applauds fans at the end of their game against Angola. The joy shifted from the Angolan base to the Kenyan corner as the whole stadium reverberated with happiness. Why Angola’s goal vs Kenya was disallowed Replays have now shown how Manha had just gone a tad too early and how Omija’s position helped in disallowing the goal. As the ball came in, Manha was clearly in front of Omija, who was attempting to get back. Fans had mixed reactions to the goal, with senior journalist Seth Olale questioning whether it was the right call. “Personal Opinion. Angola should have been awarded that late goal.” Michelle Katami said, “VAR came through. That would have broken so many hearts. FT: Angola 1-1 Kenya. Let me tell you – the Kasarani atmosphere is so beautiful. Goodness me.”
Kyama said, “The Angola player was offside. Harambee Stars’ offside trap worked with some luck. If that ball had been released a few seconds earlier, he would have been onside.” While the Governor said, “Yes am Kenyan, but unfortunately, the level of #CHAN officiating, esp the Angola vs Kenya game, was wanting. Too much BIAS against Angola. No way a Kenyan player slips and falls on his own, then Angola gets penalised. That Angola’s second goal offside, Nah!!!”
By Martin Moses
