Namibia made history on Tuesday night after stunning Tunisia 1-0 to pick their first-ever win at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
Deon Hotto fired Namibia to a superb 1-0 victory after sending a powerful header from a superb in swinging delivery from Bethuel Muzeu in the 87th minute.
Commonly referred to as the Brave Warriors, the South African nation held off Tunisia’s early attacks after Lloyd Kazapua flicked away Taha Yassine Khenissi header for the North Africans.
Mamelodi Sundonws danger man Peter Shalulile fluffed his lines when well-placed in the box moments later as both teams missed clear-cut opportunities leading to a 0-0 draw at the break.
In a bid to turn around a lackluster first-half performance, the Eagles of Carthage showed determination as they began the second half on the offensive.
Youssef Msakni’s near-post header, aiming for the goal, was expertly tipped over the bar by Kazapua, denying Tunisia an early breakthrough.
Despite the pressure, Namibia came close to scoring moments later, only to have Montassar Talbi redirect the ball around the post, thwarting Shalulile’s goal-bound attempt.
As the game entered the final half-hour, both teams had opportunities to break the deadlock. Msakni and Elias Achouri missed promising chances for Tunisia, keeping the contest finely balanced.
However, these squandered opportunities proved costly for Tunisia, as Namibia secured a historic victory with two minutes remaining. Bethuel Muzeu delivered a superb cross, and an unmarked Hotto headed home, sealing the triumph for Namibia.
Tunisia now faces the challenge of regaining momentum in their upcoming group game against Mali on Saturday, aiming to bounce back from this unexpected setback. Namibia, on the other hand, celebrates a landmark win, setting the stage for an intriguing journey in the tournament.
