Orlando Pirates’ Deon Hotto scored the only goal as Namibia secured a surprising 1-0 victory over Tunisia in a 2023 Afcon match on Tuesday.
Despite being considered underdogs, the Brave Warriors of Namibia proved their worth on the field. Peter Shalulile had several opportunities to score but failed to convert good passes in dangerous areas.
However, Deon Hotto came to the rescue in the 88th minute, heading in a cross from substitute Bethuel Muzeus and beating goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said.
The goal gave the Brave Warriors their first win in the Afcon finals and saved Shalulile from embarrassment.
Namibia’s goalkeeper, Lloyd Kazapua, effectively organized his defense and made three crucial saves to secure a point for his team.
Keeping a clean sheet against a strong team like Tunisia in the Afcon is a significant accomplishment. The Carthage Eagles had high hopes of competing fiercely and potentially winning the tournament, but Namibia has hindered their progress.
Now, the North Africans must win their next two matches in Group E against Mali and South Africa to have a chance of advancing to the next phase.
Before the Tuesday match, Namibia had not won any games in the Afcon. They had only managed to draw twice and had lost seven times.
However, coach Collin Benjamin has now led the team to their first victory, which could be the beginning of better things in this tournament.
Scoring goals is crucial for a team to progress in any tournament, and Namibia’s coaching staff will surely focus on improving in that area if they want to advance. On the other hand, Tunisia struggled to defend against their opponents and were exposed multiple times, which is not a positive sign early in the competition.
