Angola moved to the top of Group D at Africa Cup of Nations with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mauritania on Saturday evening.
After rescuing a point against Algeria, the Palancas Negras gave a starting berth to Mabululu before Sidi Bouna Amar, Guessouma Fofana and Pape Ibnou Ba earned a recall for Mauritania
Mabululu was instantly involved in proceedings where he leaned to wide of the area to get on a low ball and drew a save from Babacar Niasse with a snap shot.
The Mauritanian side replied a while later as Pape Ba latched onto a through ball to take a few steps forward to a shape a shot which goalkeeper Neblu parried away.
It came back to haunt them after the Palancas Negras hit the front beyond the half-hour mark when Gelson Dala applied quick thinking from a mix-up at the back and fired in on the half-volley.
Mauritania clawed level two minute to halftime as Bouna Amar pushed a few yards from the midfield to the centre of the area and slammed powerfully past Neblu.
Neblu denied them a second when he pushed across to get two hands on Omare Gassama's pile-driver, while Gilberto from close-range side-footed over a loose ball from goalkeeper Niasse.
Dala restored the lead five minutes in the second half after he pounced possession off Fofana to charge through a number of challengers and fired in.
Gilberto, who was guilty of a glaring miss earlier on, atoned when he tossed and turned on the byline to gather position from a tight angle and arrowed the top corner.
Mauritania replied in the 58th minute as Aboubakary Koita came short from out wide to orchestrate an angle and thumped in the top corner.
The Palancas Negras made a substitution three minutes later, with Zini sacrificed and Keliano Manuel sent on the field of play.
Both teams in particular Mauritania continued to go on the front late on, but the Palancas Negras ended up with the win to go to the top of Group D as the former exit the tournament.
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