Fans have applauded the Brave Warriors’ performance at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament, despite falling out in the knockout stage to Angola on Saturday.
It was the first time that the Brave Warriors reached the last-16, but they were eliminated after losing 3-0.
New Era Sport was at the City of Windhoek parking lot, where the match between the two was screened for a packed audience. It also rained for a brief spell.
Several other fan parks were held countrywide for the fans to witness the Brave Warriors’ fourth participation at Afcon.
Reacting to the final score, fan Katjiri Joseph said it was a game of 50/50 chances, where both teams had a chance of winning.
“To be honest, I can’t explain to you how I feel at the moment. I expected a different result against our neighbour, who also happened to be our brothers, but it was the opposite. I think both teams played well, but unfortunately, it wasn’t our day today,” he added.
In terms of their overall performance at the ongoing tournament, the passionate fan said it was the best Warriors’ team performance at Afcon he has ever witnessed.
“Great campaign; it’s sad it ended like this. But I would say I am proud of the team, and how they played at the tournament. Although we fell short, give credit where it’s due. The boys gave it all, thanks to the coach and his technical team,” he said.
Namibia made history at the 2023 Afcon, winning their first match ever and also reaching the last-16 for the first time.
Frederick Stewe, who watched the Afcon for the first time this year, said he is pleased with Namibia’s performance at the tournament, and he enjoyed every moment, despite them losing their last match.
“I have watched all their matches this year, and I can assure you that the boys did well. All we need to do now is build on this performance. We have the World Cup qualification coming, and with what we did now at the tournament, the team would just require assistance from the government and fans at large. We also have to look at the issue of playing abroad (lack of suitable stadiums here), and see how we can make it easier for them to play at home. Overall, I am happy, and I think Namibia has the right coach who needs our support. I can tell you now that Namibia will reach the semifinals at the next Afcon,” he enthused.
Fellow Warriors fan Shishongo Protassius said the team gave it their all and Namibians should rally behind the team, despite the sad ending.
“It was a great match, and the boys showed character on the field. They showed us that they are soldiers, and that they are brave. They wore the national badge with pride, and played the best football ever. I think we should support the boys, and see how we can improve their performance at this tournament,” he added.
Meanwhile, New Era Sport also managed to catch up with a couple of Angolan fans, who were likewise watching the match at the parking lot. Gabriel Herruculun said it was a good thing that Angola won the match because they played well against their counterparts.
“It’s sweet and sad at the same time. I was born in Angola and raised here, so I wear both caps. But at the moment, I am supporting Angola, and I think it was a well-deserved victory for them. They were the better team against Namibia, utilised their chances, and got the much-needed victory to proceed to the next round. Overall, I give credit to the Namibian team; they gave it their all, and showed what a good team they are. I believe with a good development programme, Namibia will do wonders at the next Afcon,” he observed.
Despite being eliminated from the competition, Brave Warriors’ coach Collin Benjamin expressed excitement over what his players had achieved.
“It took us 26 years to get here to win our first game, and to get out of the group stages. Our defeat is a valuable football lesson that we have to learn. Despite Angola being a man down, we couldn’t break through their defence, but it was still a good game for my boys,” he stated.
The coach added that competing at the Afcon was a top experience for his players, and his team exceeded expectations, showing that Namibia is growing as a footballing nation. Additional reporting by Nampa