Brazil are still searching for an out-and-out striker to replace Ronaldo despite scoring seven goals in their two friendlies this week.
Coach Dunga says that Sunday's 4-2 win over the United States and Wednesday's 3-1 defeat of Mexico have cleared many doubts from his mind and given him more confidence for the World Cup qualifiers, which start next month.
But his quest to find a suitable replacement for Ronaldo, who has not been picked since the World Cup and is injured, has so far been fruitless.
Afonso's third goal against Mexico in Boston was the only one of the seven in the last four days to have come from a pure striker.
Of the other six, one was an own goal, two were from defenders Lucio and Kleber, two were from attacking midfielders Ronaldinho and Kaka and the other a penalty converted by midfielder Elano.
Russian-based Vagner Love and Afonso, who plays for Dutch club Heerenveen and was barely known in Brazil when he was called up for the first time earlier this year, have been the most recent candidates.
Vagner Love was the regular striker in the Copa America but managed only one goal while Robinho, who tends to play down the flanks, carried the team through the tournament by scoring six.
Vagner Love again looked out of his depth when he started against the Mexicans on Wednesday.
Afonso has also struggled and, although he broke his duck on Wednesday in his sixth Brazil outing, he quickly followed up his goal by blasting another effort high and wide in a manner which a Sunday league player would have been ashamed of.
Olympique Lyon striker Fred has been plagued by injury and Brazil are otherwise surprisingly devoid of world class players for the position.
On Wednesday, Dunga briefly gave Kaka the role, though it is unlikely he would want to deprive his side of the AC Milan player's explosive bursts from midfield.
Dunga has already hinted that he could offer Ronaldo, who is expected back in action within a month, the chance of a comeback at the age of 31.
But as long as the goals keep coming, Dunga is unlikely to lose too much sleep over the problem.
Ronaldinho and Kaka, who both sat out the Copa America at their own request, have returned to the side refreshed and revived, the former producing two of his best Brazil performances.
"These two games have been excellent for observations and, of course, have left me with a lot more certainties," said Dunga, whose team face Colombia in Bogota on Oct. 14.
"The team showed a lot of personality. They were playing better..."
