A crucial match in Group E of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations took place in Korhogo this evening. South Africa, fresh from a defeat to open their tournament, beat Namibia in something of a local rivalry on the international scene.
The 601-mile border that runs between those two nations is rarely focused on when it comes to football but the stakes are high when these neighbours meet tonight. The Brave Warriors of Namibia, rank outsiders heading into this AFCON, won their first-ever game in the competition at the tenth attempt last time out and a point will now send them into the last-16.
Bafana Bafana, meanwhile, were beaten by Mali but the west Africans’ draw with Tunisia yesterday has kept the group wide open. A brace from Themba Zwane led them to a 4-0 win after Percy Tau netted an early penalty.
South Africa bagged their first win of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a show of strength against Namibia.
Percy Tau’s early penalty was followed by Themba Zwane’s brace and a goal from Thapelo Maseko for a 4-0 win in Korhogo on Sunday night to round off the second round of group games at AFCON.
MATCH FULL REPORT::
South Africa bagged their first win of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a show of strength against Namibia.
Percy Tau’s early penalty was followed by Themba Zwane’s brace and a goal from Thapelo Maseko for a 4-0 win in Korhogo on Sunday night to round off the second round of group games at AFCON.
Following a disappointing defeat to Mali, Bafana Bafana relied on domestic league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to provide the bulk of a starting line-up which blew past a Namibia team fresh from their first-ever Cup of Nations win.
Former Brighton winger Tau missed a penalty in South Africa’s opener and was offered the chance for redemption in the first quarter of an hour here, after VAR spotted a clumsy-but-harsh handball by Riaan Hanamub. Tau converted his spot-kick on this occasion, hard and low into the bottom corner.
Brave Warriors left-back Hanamub was soon at the centre of things for his team in a more positive light, providing a pair of sumptuous crosses after darting runs on the overlap. Both went unconverted as Collin Benjamin’s team’s entertaining, flowing attacking football threatened their neighbours.
However, Namibia’s defence soon fell apart and Thapelo Morena was gifted acres of space down the right flank to pick out Zwane for 2-0 on 25 minutes.
A pair of huge chances went begging for South Africa but any fear that they would spurn this chance to land a first win of the tournament were quashed when Zwane waltzed through to score a fine solo goal before the break.
Hugo Broos’ side cruised through the second half and there was more joy to be had on the counter-attack, as substitute winger Maseko ran through to make it four late on.
Group E finishes up on Wednesday evening as group leaders Mali take on Namibia while South Africa face Tunisia, who sit bottom on a single point after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Mali.
