Dala: scattered beginnings rediscovered by Al-Wakrah

Gelson Dala, the key player for Angola’s national football team, led his country to a comfortable victory over Namibia with a 3-0 score, securing their place in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Dala’s remarkable journey in the current tournament has elevated him to the second spot in the race for the Golden Boot, with four goals, trailing behind Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue.

Born in the Angolan city of Luanda, Dala’s football journey has been a rollercoaster. He learned the fundamentals of the game with the renowned Angolan club, 1º de Agosto, donning their first-team jersey from 2013 to 2016.

After his contract with the Angolan team concluded, Dala ventured to Portugal, joining the reserve team of Sporting Lisbon.

Dala’s standout performances with Sporting Lisbon’s reserve team, where he scored 17 goals in 23 matches, earned him a promotion to the first team.

However, he found irregular playing time during the 2017-2018 season and subsequently went on loan to Rio Ave for the 2018-2019 season.

Playing 84 matches for Rio Ave across all competitions, Dala scored 20 goals and provided 17 assists.

He also had a brief loan spell in Turkey with Antalyaspor before leaving European football and landing in the Arab region, joining Qatari club Al-Wakrah in 2021.

Initially on loan, the Qatari club later secured his permanent transfer for around 1.5 million euros.

Dala regained his form in Qatar, scoring 39 goals and providing 9 assists in 63 matches across all competitions with Al-Wakrah.

This impressive stint earned him a spot in the lineup for Angola during the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire.

In the ongoing tournament, Gelson Dala has already contributed to five goals in four matches for the Angolan national team, scoring four goals and providing an assist.

His standout performance against Mauritania, where he scored two goals, played a crucial role in Angola’s 3-2 victory in the group stage.

Dala continued his stellar form in the Round of 16 against Namibia, netting two goals and assisting another in the emphatic 3-0 win.

As Dala’s star continues to rise, his journey from scattered beginnings to becoming a key figure in Al-Wakrah and Angola’s national team is being rediscovered on the grand stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The football world watches with anticipation to see if Dala can maintain his prolific form and guide Angola deeper into the tournament.