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 Sunday.
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 an 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 realise 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.
Angola manager Oliveira Goncalves conceded that Senegal had turned up as pre-match favourites but said: "The strongest side doesn't always win."
He added: "Senegel deserved their advantage in the first half, but I made some changes at half-time and asked the players to keep the ball low, and we played faster.
"Senegal are a big team but we deserved the win, despite their star players."
Senegal coach Henri Kasperczak said his side had changed character during the match.
"In the first half we were commited, strong and reliable, but in the second half Angola's goal hit my players mentally. We knew before that if we lost this we'd still have a chance of qualifying, but it's going to be tough against South Africa."
After conceding late equalisers 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.
Diouf floated a free kick beyond the far post where Souleymane Diawara headed the ball across the goalmouth and Faye punished out-of-postion 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.
Senegal stormed back in the second half of their clash with Tunisia, but this time they found themselves on the back foot and Manucho levelled 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.