Local football pundits have praised the Brave Warriors’ performance in Saturday’s 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Cameroon, although many felt the team was robbed by a controversial decision.
Namibia’s national men’s football team took on the Indomitable Lions at Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua, Cameroon, where the hosts secured a 1-0 win. The match’s only goal, scored in the 65th minute by Hatayspor striker Vincent Aboubakar, raised questions as it appeared to be offside.
With this victory, Cameroon leads Group J with three points, while Kenya and Zimbabwe are tied with one point each after their 0-0 draw on Friday.
Despite the loss, the Brave Warriors had their chances, with captain Peter Shalulile getting an early opportunity inside the first five minute and another close call at 25 minutes, only to be denied by Cameroon’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana.
Woody Jacobs, one of Namibia’s most decorated coaches, was impressed by the Warriors’ display, attributing the result to missed chances rather than a poor performance. “The tactical setup was good, and the five-man defence worked effectively as we managed to keep Cameroon at bay for most of the game. The boys put up a great performance against a strong Cameroon side,” he said.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s match against Kenya at Orlando Stadium, Jacobs remains optimistic. “It was unfortunate that Cameroon got away with an offside goal, but if Namibia can bring the same level of performance to Tuesday’s game, I’m confident they can secure the needed result,” he said.
Also reacting to Saturday’s match, football expert Julien Garises, echoed similar sentiments, attributing the loss to missed opportunities and questionable officiating. She noted that, based on her analysis, Namibia was the better team on the field, and with continued determination, they are likely to win their next fixture.
“We lost the game because we didn’t capitalise on our chances. Overall, we were the better team, and the boys should hold their heads high. We need to ensure we finish all our opportunities. The goalkeeper was excellent and kept the score respectable,” she added.
On his side, head coach of the Brave Warriors, Collin Benjamin also expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance while raising concerns about the match officiating.
“I am proud of the boys and the team overall; we played against a strong side. However, the conditions were challenging, and while Cameroon did score, there are aspects of the game that need to be reviewed for fairness. There were elements in play that suggested this game was not conducted fairly,” he said.
-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na