Gallant Warriors lose to Zambia

A gallant Namibian side were knocked out of the Chan competition when they went down 6-5 on penalties to Zambia in Lusaka on Saturday. Zambia were leading 2-1 at the end of full time and with the first encounter in Windhoek being won 2-1 by Namibia, the match had to be decided on penalties.

In a nerve-wracking shootout, Namibian captain Heini Isaacks hit the crossbar and although Joseph Zimba also hit the crossbar, Denzil Haoseb’s shot was saved to give Zambia a 6-5 victory.

Earlier a Festus Mbewe header gave Zambia the lead on 30m but Namibia equalised through a great strike by Benjamin Nenkavu 10 minutes later. Winstone Kalengo however restored Zambia’s lead on 70m when he pounced to steer a loose ball into the net.

The Brave Warriors started off well and had Zambia under siege with strong performances from the workaholic striker Itamunua Keimuine and the marauding winger Benyamin Nenkavu, assisted by the forward surges from captain Heinrich Isaacks, Wangu Gome and Absalom Iimbondi.

The Warriors had two corner kicks inside five minutes but they could not profit from them, while Zambia also came close with a free kick on seven minutes, but Buchizya Mfune shot over the bar after a floated free kick.

Nenkavu then fed the ever-alert Keimuine but the latter’s lack of experience let him down.

Wangu Gome too had a shot blocked for a corner kick on 25 minutes before Denis Tjetjinda conceded Zambia’s first corner kick.

On the half-hour mark, the packed and noisy Nkoloma Stadium called for substitutions but moments later they were on the scoresheet as Festus Mbewe, missing form the first leg in Windhoek, headed home an inviting cross from right winger Benedict Chepeshi.

The Brave Warriors however roared back from nowhere, as Nenkavu found himself unmarked on the right side of the box and unleashed a cracking shot into the far top corner, to silence the Zambian fans.

In the second half, the Warriors continued to hold their own against the hosts with Keimuine regularly latching onto high balls from Gome, Shalulile and Isaacks, but he often found himself isolated against a trio of bulky defenders.

On 64 minutes, Keimuine again found space behind the defence but somehow could not reach the ball before Zambian goalie Danny Munyao.

The second half continued to be action-filled as the home side pushed for a goal to keep their chances alive while the visitors tried to hang onto the scoreline.

However, on 70 minutes, Mbewe saw his close range header palmed away by the diving Charles Uirab, but Zambia’s first-leg goal hero Kalengo was the first to pounce and hit a shot into the back of the net, to send the Zambian fans into wild celebrations.

Iimbondi had a chance to equalise after being put clear by Gome, but his shot went astray. Joslin Kamatuka came on for the tired Nenkavu with 11 minutes to go and on 82 minutes Lloydt Kazapua started warming up as penalties were looming.

Kazapua then replaced Uirab on 90 minutes and after one minute of additional time; it was down to penalties to decide who would go through to meet Mozambique in the final round for 2016 Rwanda Chan.

In the shootout, Heini Isaacks hit the crossbar; Kondwani Mtonga scored; Denis Tjetjinda scored; Joseph Zimba hit the crossbar; Joslin Kamatuka scored; Jack Chirwa scored; Itamunua Keimuine scored; Moses Phiri scored; Ananias Gebhardt scored; and Buchizya Mfune scored to send the shoot-out into sudden death.

Absalom Iimbondi scored for Namibia; Benedict Chepeshi scored; Denzil Hoaseb’s shot was saved by Danny Munyao and then Winstone Kalengo scored to condemn the Brave Warriors to a 6-5 defeat. – nfa.org.na

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