TAMALE, Ghana, 28 January 2008 — Manchester United-bound ‘Manucho’ scored twice as Angola hit back in the second half to shock Senegal 3-1 in a 2008 African Nations Cup Group D clash yesterday.

The upset lifted the shock qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup to the top of the pool with four points and left their opponents probably needing a victory against South Africa Thursday to have any hope of reaching the knockout phase.

Senegal shaded the first half and led through a Abdoulaye Faye header only to be taken apart in the second as ‘Manucho’ pounced twice before Flavio Amado added the killer third.

‘Manucho’ had successful trials with English Premiership champions United last month and after receiving praise from manager Sir Alex Ferguson needs a work permit to realize his childhood dream of moving to Old Trafford.

It was only the second Angolan triumph in 11 Nations Cup matches spanning four tournaments while 2002 runners-up Senegal lost by more than one goal for the first time in their 42-match Cup history.

After conceding late equalizers in their first matches, Angola and Senegal made changes in the first meeting of the ‘Black Antelopes’ and ‘Teranga Lions’ at the biennial tournament.

A knee injury ruled out Angola captain Paulo Figueiredo and Manuel Mendonca was dropped with wide midfielders ‘Ze Kalanga’ and ‘Maurito’ taking their places.

Papa Bouba Diop, one of several Premiership players in the Senegal squad and known as ‘The Wardrobe’ because of his massive physique, came in for Ousmane Ndoye.

Senegal, who boast second and fourth-place finishes in the previous three editions of the Nations Cup, started slowly and conceded three corners within 10 minutes.

But as the opening half progressed before another disappointing small crowd in the northern town, the ‘Lions’ began to bare their teeth and iconic captain El-Hadji Diouf was not far off target with a curling shot.

Former African Footballer of the Year Diouf squandered a half chance before his team took the lead on 20 minutes through Faye, another member of the Premiership brigade. Diouf floated a free kick beyond the far post where Souleymane Diawara headed the ball across the goalmouth and Faye punished out-of-position Angola goalkeeper ‘Lama’ with a close-range header.

There could have been a second goal for the west Africans soon after as a cross exposed the retreating Angolan defenders, but unmarked Frederic Mendy was unable to control the ball. ‘Lama’ needed treatment just before half-time as he dived bravely at the feet of Diouf to clear the ball as the Senegalese sought to convert their superiority into goals.

Senegal stormed back in the second half of their clash with Tunisia, but this time they found themselves on the back foot and ‘Manucho’ leveled on 50 minutes by climbing above Habib Beye to head a ‘Ze Kalanga’ cross home. The tide was turning and goalkeeper Tony Sylva tipped over a ‘Maurito’ drive before ‘Manucho’ struck again after 67 minutes, poking the ball into the net after Sylva flapped at a corner.

Angola scored a third goal with 12 minutes left when Amado, who plays for five-time African champions Al-Ahly of Egypt, headed a cross past motionless Sylva.

Egypt Brush Aside Sudan in Nile Battle

In Kumasi, Ghana, defending champions Egypt continued their African Nations Cup title defense by beating neighbors Sudan 3-0 in Group C on Saturday.

Egypt top the group with six points from two matches while Cameroon moved into second spot after their 5-1 hammering of Zambia. Sudan are bottom of the standings with no points. This though was not the command performance that overwhelmed the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Tuesday as Sudan showed they were not intimidated by the pedigree of the five-time champions.

“Sudan came out to win so that they could still be in with a chance in this competition. We did not control the game at the start but gradually dominated the midfield and this was what gave us our victory,” said Egypt star Hosny Abd Rabou.

Sudan striker Faizat Agab said: “We have learnt a lot from our two matches but will want to get something when we play against cameroon in our last game.”