Panduleni Nekundi came off the bench to score a dramatic winner for the Brave Warriors as they bested Uganda 1-0 and advance to the quarterfinals of the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals and set up a tantalizing final Group B game against Zambia on Monday in Casablanca.
In the game in which Namibia again played smart and cautious, Uganda dominated ball possession but it was the Ricardo Mannetti’s trump card, Panduleni Nekundi who found space in the box to hit home the winner in added time on Thursday night.
Earlier on, Namibia first chance came on 33 minutes as debutant Vitapi Ngaruka played a long ball forward and on raced Hendrick Somaeb who sliced the ball over the advancing Uganda goalkeeper Rashid Watenga and the ball agonizingly fell onto the roof of the net.
Dynamo Fredericks continued to work hard in midfield with his partner captain Ronald Ketjijere while Lodyt Kazapua saved his own blushes with a second ball block after failing to hold onto a corner, as Uganda racked up ball possession and Namibia defended smartly.
On 36 minutes, Riaan Hanamub came forward and his combination play with Petrus Shitembi resulted in Absalom Iimbondi having a cracker from range which was comfortable for Watenga.
In the second half, Itamunua Keimuine came on for Somaeb and six minutes later Junias Theophilus decided to pass onto Shitembi while going for goal was after option and moments later Kazapua produced another match saving save, as he saved a goal bound shot and Hambira cleared the leftovers.
Hambira continued his timely play and on 71 minutes tackled well in the box to avoid a penalty and four minutes later, substitute Panduleni Nekundi, who came on for Junias won a free kick for Namibia that saw his challenger Timothy Dennis end off after a second yellow card.
Nekundi could have scored on 82 minutes as a fine ball from Iimbondi from the left felt for him inside the small balk, but he shot straight at the goalkeeper.
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The Brave warriors will travel to Casablanca on Friday to go and prepare for their final Group B game against neighbors Zambia on 22 January in Casablanca. Both sides have six points and will play to finish on top of the group. Albeit guaranteed qualification.
Southern region, we are becoming a power house .I would love zambia to meet Nigeria .so that we remove them on the position, they do not belong. Someone lied to them that, they are a power house, while in reality, they are not.They brag like north Korea. I just want them to stop making noise.
The truth is that I don’t still get the point of this CHAN, because the traditionally weaker teams like Rwanda, Libya and even Zambia suddenly become strong, while the traditionally stronger teams like Nigeria, Cote D’Ivore, and Cameroun (all of who have their A players in Europe becos they’re the best in Africa) suddenly become weaker at CHAN (imagine, Cote Ivoire and Cameroun are out already). Ordinarily, this is a competition countries like Zambia and South Africa should win (Becos they have 80% of their A team playing in their local leagues). But I trust even this weakened Nigerian team to come out all guns blazing when they face countries with braggers like Zambia.
they are weak now because they rely on foreign based stars.
No, Mukei, “they” rely on foreign based stars because they’re their best players and top European teams only buy the best African players. LOGIC 101: That means Nigeria and other West African teams have the best African players. Your best players are not good enough for the big European teams. 90% of your best players play in your local league, and yet this Team B Super Eagles will trash them when they meet. And oh, by the way (so you know), Mulenga, Mbewe, Mweene, Daka etc cannot get into the first 11 of the main Super Eagles. Maybe the bench (except for arrogant little kid, Nwepu. That one that overestimates his ability cannot even make the training ground).
Don’t worry my friend will meet both at Chan and Africa cup
My friend, the Mulenga that’s being overzealously celebrated here, doesn’t he play for your main team? What about Mbewe? How many of this CHAN team doesn’t play in your first team? Maybe 2 or 3, right? Ok, point to a single player in the CHAN Nigerian team that plays for the main Super Eagles. Except the goal keeper, who will still by the way will be dropped to number 3 in Russia 2018. You see, hardly can any of this Nigeria CHAN team players make the main team of the Super Eagles. In fact, not a single one. Do you understand the real quality of the main Super eagles now? I mean, check out once more the meaning of “SUPER” in the dictionary. Yet, this weak Nigerian team will take out your Chipolopolo with all your regular first team players like Mbewe and Mulenga. You know who pisses Nigerians off most in your team and will motivate even a weak Nigerian team to win against you? Your coach, Wedson does not have a single strain of humility and that starter and little boy in African football called Daka that was shoving and pushing established Nigerian European stars disrespectfully when they came to Nigeria!He thought he would score. Lol. That was 1-0 victory in Uyo was an insult on Nigerians. We wanted a replay that could be satisfying like a 3-0!
Sorry, I meant Nwepu. Daka is a humble boy. We like him. That Nwepu over-rates himself. He was the one that was pushing and shoving and saying stuffs without respect to bigger stars of the Nigerian team. Little boy Nwepu feeling like God knows what. Does he know think he’s more talented than the average Under 20 Nigerian player, let alone main stars in the Super Eagles?