WINDHOEK – Heading into their first competitive match of the year, lady-luck once again turned her back on Namibia’s senior football team, the Brave Warriors, when they lost 1-0 against the Black Stars of Ghana, in an international friendly match in Ghana yesterday.
Daniel Darkwah’s injury time strike proved enough to hand the Ghanaians a hard-fought victory on home turf, but the score line was definitely not a true reflection of the game.
In an action-packed clash at the 40 000-seater Kumasi Sports Stadium in Ghana’s second largest commercial city, coach Ricardo Mannetti started with seven foreign-based players in his starting line-up against an equally determined Ghanaian squad that consisted mostly of local players.
Despite the defeat, Namibia were the better team on the day, as they dominated and created more goal-scoring chances compared to the home side, with striker-cum-midfielder Wangu Gomes displaying some individual brilliance as the youngster stole the hearts of hundreds of spectators with skills and maturity.
According to Mannetti, Namibia should have taken an early lead through winger-cum-midfielder Deon Hotto, who blew away two clear-cut goal-scoring chances with only the keeper to beat, while striker Sadney Urikhob also missed a sitter after Henrico Botes teed him up.
Heading into the changeover, Namibia should have at least been three goals in front but the pair of Hotto and Urikhob again failed to do the basics despite not being under any pressure.
Namibian goalkeeper Virgil Vries, who captained the side yesterday, was reduced to a mere spectator, as the Ghanaian strikers had little to offer his waiting hands, while on the other side Botes also squandered a great chance to hand the visitors a much-needed lead when he shot wide.
Halftime score 0-0.
The second half followed the same pattern of play but this time Ghana came out a bit stronger and started creating chances of their own, which finally paid off in the last four additional minutes when Daniel Darkwah stroked for a 1-0 victory.
Yesterday’s starting line-up: Virgil Vries, Chris Katjiukua, Dudes Mwendihanga, Gilbert Ananias, Danzyl Haoseb, Ronald Ketjijere, Wangu Gomes, Petrus Shitembi, Deon Hotto, Sadney Uri-khob and Henrico Botes.