Mozambique hold Namibia to a draw

The Brave Warriors were held to a 0-0 draw by Mozambique in an international friendly match in Windhoek on Tuesday evening.

Namibia enjoyed most of the possession, and created numerous goal scoring chances, especially in the first half, but they seldom looked like scoring, while Mozambique’s defence was rock solid.

Despite their lack of possession, the visitors came the closest to scoring midway through the second half when substitute Belito Antonio rattled the crossbar from a rare counterattack.

After a cautious start, Namibian winger Deon Hotto put Petrus Shitembi clear in the box on 10m but his shot was cleared away.

Two minutes later Freedom Puriza sent in a pinpoint cross to Henrico Botes but Mozambique’s goalie Soares Soares dived full length to punch the ball clear.

Pineas Jacob showed his speed when he broke through Mozambiuque’s defence and beat Soares to the ball but with an open goal gaping, he was blown up for offside.

Midway through the first half, Shitembi displayed some great footwork to break into Mozambique’s box and put Neville Tjiueza clear but his shot was blocked.

Mozambique hardly had any possession and won their first corner after 25 minutes but Namibian keeper Athiel Mbaha handled it with assurance.

But Namibia soon threatened again and Soares was once again called into action when he dived to punch a Puriza cross away.

Namibia started the second half on the attack with a Neville Tjiueza corner being punched away while Mozambique defender Albino Muchanga headed away a cross by Dennis Tjetjinda.

Willy Stephanus, who came on for Jacob at the start of the second half, soon made his presence felt and put Shitembi clear in the box but Xavier Masive brought off a fine tackle.

Mozambique broke away on a rare counterattack on 60m and a shot by substitute Belito Antonio rattled off the crossbar with Athiel Mbaha well beaten.

Namibian coach Ricardo Mannetti rang the changes, bringing on Bryan Bantam, Jerome Louis, Roger Katjiteo and Stanley Kamesiepo, but none of them made an impact as Mozambique’s defence stood firm till the final whistle.

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