Warriors' Afcon chances stronger
Namibia held their own
The Brave Warriors of Namibia head into this weekend's second-leg Afcon clash with confidence after drawing 1-1 with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
Namibia strengthened their chances of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after holding Cameroon to a 1-1 draw at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé on Friday night.
The Namibians took a surprise lead through their talisman Peter Shalulile in the 26th minute, beating Cameroon's goalkeeper Devis Epassy with a strike from range to break the deadlock.
Cameroon, however, equalised in the 73rd minute through a Nicolas N’Koulou goal.
With this result, the Cameroonians remain at the top of the group with four points, while Namibia moves ahead of Burundi into second place with two points to keep their Afcon hopes alive. Burundi is third with one point.
Goal achieved
The top-two teams in each group qualify for the 2023 Afcon final, which will take place in Ivory Coast in January next year.
Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin expressed satisfaction with the results, stating that their aim to gain points was achieved.
"We have a young and hungry team, and they want to succeed by playing against the big boys. We are going to go back and prepare for the Indomitable Lions once again," he said.
"Our mission is clear for us; we want to go to Afcon. Maybe for Cameroon it’s normal; it’s every day, but for us, it’s not normal; to qualify is not easy. It takes hard work, sacrifice, blood, tears and it’s not going to be easy. Our mission was to steal points. Our target is to go with the big boys to Afcon.”
He added that the team has injured players, and "we have to assess them and develop a strategy for Cameroon."
Love of the game
Namibia’s goalscorer Shalulile said scoring goals begins at training. "We make sure that every chance we get, we grab it.
"We just go out and do what we love, and that is to score goals and for the team to get a point."
With his goal on Friday, Shalulile became the all-time top goalscorer for the Warriors, having now scored 14 goals, thus surpassing former top striker Rudolf Bester, who, with 13 goals, had been the top goalscorer.
Namibia’s president, Hage Geingob, who is an avid football fan, sent a motivational message to the players after the match on his official social media platforms.
"Well done. I encourage the players and staff to go on and win the next game."
The Namibians took a surprise lead through their talisman Peter Shalulile in the 26th minute, beating Cameroon's goalkeeper Devis Epassy with a strike from range to break the deadlock.
Cameroon, however, equalised in the 73rd minute through a Nicolas N’Koulou goal.
With this result, the Cameroonians remain at the top of the group with four points, while Namibia moves ahead of Burundi into second place with two points to keep their Afcon hopes alive. Burundi is third with one point.
Goal achieved
The top-two teams in each group qualify for the 2023 Afcon final, which will take place in Ivory Coast in January next year.
Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin expressed satisfaction with the results, stating that their aim to gain points was achieved.
"We have a young and hungry team, and they want to succeed by playing against the big boys. We are going to go back and prepare for the Indomitable Lions once again," he said.
"Our mission is clear for us; we want to go to Afcon. Maybe for Cameroon it’s normal; it’s every day, but for us, it’s not normal; to qualify is not easy. It takes hard work, sacrifice, blood, tears and it’s not going to be easy. Our mission was to steal points. Our target is to go with the big boys to Afcon.”
He added that the team has injured players, and "we have to assess them and develop a strategy for Cameroon."
Love of the game
Namibia’s goalscorer Shalulile said scoring goals begins at training. "We make sure that every chance we get, we grab it.
"We just go out and do what we love, and that is to score goals and for the team to get a point."
With his goal on Friday, Shalulile became the all-time top goalscorer for the Warriors, having now scored 14 goals, thus surpassing former top striker Rudolf Bester, who, with 13 goals, had been the top goalscorer.
Namibia’s president, Hage Geingob, who is an avid football fan, sent a motivational message to the players after the match on his official social media platforms.
"Well done. I encourage the players and staff to go on and win the next game."
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