A first half penalty from veteran forward Khama Billiat handed Zimbabwe a 1-0 victory over Namibia in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group J qualifier at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Thursday.
Namibia remain without a point in the pool with a third straight loss, but will feel they created enough chances in the game to have got something from it.
Zimbabwe move to the top of the group with five points from a possible nine, keeping a clean sheet for the third game in succession. They have played a game more than Kenya and Cameroon, who both have four points and play on Friday.
Billiat scored the only goal of the game on 34 minutes when he netted from the penalty-spot after Kennedy Amutenya’s found in the box.
It was a little fortuitous in that Namibia goalkeeper Edward Maova guessed the right way from the spot, but the ball appeared to take a bad bounce off a divot on the pitch and went over him.
It is a first goal for Billiat in a competitive international since 2019, having returned to the side following his international retirement in 2021.
Lively forward Prins Tjiueza came close to the equaliser just before halftime, but his shot from 15 yards hit the outside of the post and went away to safety.
At the other end, Marshall Munetsi’s pass to Daniel Msendami provided an opportunity for the latter, whose shot was deflected onto the post and went away to safety.
After that it was all Namibia as they went in search of an equaliser. Tjiueza had another shot after being set up by Bethuel Muzeu, but his effort was well-saved by Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
The keeper then produced another fine stop to deny Ivan Kamberipa, whose header at the back post from a free kick was arrowing into the goal.
Tjiueza’s volley from the edge of the box flashed narrowly wide of the post, before Arubi denied him again with 15 minutes to go.
The teams will meet again at the same venue for what will be a home fixture for Zimbabwe on Monday.
It will be a do-or-die clash for Namibia, who simply have to start picking up points if they want to be among the two teams from the pool that advance to the Cup of Nations finals in Morocco from 21 December, 2025 – 18 January, 2026. – cosafa.com
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