WINDHOEK – Hosts Namibia have been left with a mammoth task to reach the semifinals of the TN Mobile CAF Women’s Championship after conceding two late goals to go down 3-1 against Ivory Coast at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek last night.
Playing in an all-white gear as opposed to their customary red attire, the hosts started the brighter of the two sides with skillful playmaker Memory Ngonda dictating terms in the middle of the park.
Gladiators mentor, Jacqui Shipanga, made a tactical change to her starting line-up from the side that defeated Zambia (2-0) in their opening match with Rita Williams dropping to the substitute’s bench – giving way for the attack-minded Stacy Naris.
The bulky robust Ivorians started to make frequent inroads into the Namibian danger zone but were easily thwarted by the resolute defending of captain fantastic, Uerii Kasaona.
In the 8th minute, fullback Lina Katuta found her way into the referee’s crime sheet for remonstrating with the match official after she committed a foul on the edge of the penalty box.
Soon afterwards, dreadlocked skipper Nahi Josee stunned the home crowd with an opportunistic goal with 15 minutes gone on the clock.
The big Ivorian latched onto a loose ball after the hosts’ usually reliable shot stopper, Lydia Eixas, dismally failed to hold onto a harmless looking delivery, which bounced off the framework. At the other end, the hosts were presented with a golden chance to get back on level terms but Kasaona miscued her effort from close range.
However, the visitors’ joy was to be short-lived. Crowd favourite, the pop star look-alike Rita Williams’ powerful free kick from almost the halfway line flew neatly through the outstretched butter-fingered hands of Ivorian goalkeeper Tiegnou Coulibaly and kissed the roof of the net. The goal sent the entire stadium into raptures (1-1).
With halftime approaching, Shipanga hauled off the ineffective Elmarie Fredericks for a fresh pair of legs in the shape of Twelikondjela Amukoto. Eixas finally redeemed herself when she effortlessly stopped Koko N’Guessan’s pinpoint header on the stroke of halftime.
Both teams huffed and puffed after the resumption with half-goal scoring chances and wayward shooting and poor decision-making the order of the day.
The Ivorians started asking questions but could not carve their way through the well-oiled Gladiators’ rearguard.
As the match wore on, the muscular Ivorians grew in confidence and put the hosts’ defence under tremendous pressure with pocket size winger N’Guessan at the centre of the forays. Shipanga unleashed Williams in place of the tiring Julian Kruger.
With the tie destined for a stalemate, Tia N’Rehy broke the hearts of the many Namibians when she bundled the ball home from close range after the hosts’ defence failed to clear their lines.
The enterprising Josee skinned her markers on the left flank before she delivered a well executed low cross into the Namibian danger zone for N’Rehy to make it 2-1 before putting the final nail in the hosts’ coffin with goal number three to complete her brace. Final score: Namibia 1- 3 Ivory Coast.
In the first game, African powerhouse Nigeria are mathematically through to the semifinals after walloping a hapless Zambia 6-0 in a one-sided Group-A match. The Super Falcons have scored 10 goals in 180 minutes of action, conceding a paltry 2 and currently occupy the summit of the group standings.