Angola and Ivory Coast played out a tense 0-0 draw on Friday in their Group D encounter at the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with Delfim Betuela emerging as the undisputed standout performer.
While the scoreboard remained unchanged over the 90 minutes, the quality and control displayed by Betuela in the heart of Angola’s midfield brought life to an otherwise cagey affair.
The teenager was named Man of the Match following a performance defined by poise, precision, and vision.
With Ivory Coast needing a win to guarantee early progression to the quarter-finals and Angola desperate to recover from an opening-day loss, the stakes were high.
But despite both sides showing flashes of attacking promise, neither could convert their opportunities into goals.
In a match marked by tight defensive structures and fierce battles in midfield, Betuela’s calmness under pressure set him apart.
He consistently dictated the tempo for Angola, linking defence and attack with crisp passing and intelligent movement.
His ability to accelerate play in transition posed problems for the Ivorian defence, but a lack of clinical finishing from his teammates meant Angola couldn’t capitalise on his creativity.
“He was everywhere on the pitch,” said one Angolan staff member after the game. “Delfim gave us rhythm, control, and belief.”
Ivory Coast, while technically sound, struggled to find the spark needed in the final third.
Their forwards were largely kept quiet by Angola’s disciplined backline, with goalkeeper Cristiano Mutola rarely tested.
The Ivorian side did, however, enjoy long spells of possession and moved the ball with intent, especially in the first half, but failed to convert their territorial advantage into tangible chances.
Angola, on the other hand, showed greater urgency in the second half, with Betuela pulling the strings.
A few half-chances from long range and set-pieces were their best opportunities, but the decisive goal never arrived.
This result leaves Group D finely poised, with all four teams still in contention for qualification to the knockout stage.
Angola will now look to build on this performance when they face the Central African Republic in their final group match, while Ivory Coast must regroup ahead of their next challenge.
For now, though, the spotlight firmly rests on Delfim Betuela — a young midfielder whose influence is growing with every match, and whose presence may yet prove decisive in Angola’s tournament journey.
