Namibia through to Afcon 2019 with the help of Guinea Bissau

NAMIBIA qualified for the 2019 African Cup of Nations finals in Egypt despite losing 4-1 to Zambia in Lusaka on Saturday.

Guinea Bissau did Namibia a huge favour with a late rally to draw 2-2 against Mozambique to ensure that they qualify with Namibia from Group K.

Guinea Bissau won the group with 9 points, while Namibia and Mozambique both ended on 8, but Namibia went through due to a better head-to-head record against Mozambique.

Zambia, who were already out of the running, finished last on 7 points.

But what drama was dished out to soccer fans in Lusaka and Bissau.

The only way that Mozambique could beat Namibia to a place at Afcon 2019 was with a victory against Guinea Bissau, and they nearly did that when they took a 2-1 lead with five minutes to go.

Guinea Bissau, however, saved Namibia’s blushes with two late goals to snuff out Mozambique’s hopes.

There was drama galore at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka as Augustine Mulenga scored a brace and Donashano Malama and Lazarus Kambole one goal each, while Peter Shalulile scored Namibia’s solitary goal.

Shalulile, however, had another goal disallowed for offside, although that was a big blunder by the linesman and referee as an injured Zambian player lying on the edge of the Zambian line clearly played Shalulile on side.

Besides that, Deon Hotto also missed an open goal when he hit the cross bar, but on the whole, Namibia did not make use of their opportunities, while Zambia were much more clinical in front of goals.

Mulenga opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a great shot from the edge of the box that hit the roof of the net.

Shortly after Namibia came close from a free kick, but Willy Stephanus’ shot just went over the cross bar.

Hotto then missed a sitter when he was put clear by Shalulile after a quick counter attack, but with an open goal gaping he hit the upright.

Malama made it 2-0 on 53 minutes when he blasted home from close range, but three minutes later Shalulile found the net with a great deflected header, only for the linesman to disallow it for offside.

Namibian coach Ricardo Mannetti was furious and remonstrated with the linesman and referee, since the injured Zambian player had played Shalulile on side, but the referee disallowed the goal.

Mulenga put Zambia 3-0 ahead with a fine deflected header into the corner of the net on 82 minutes, but Shalulile finally opened Namibia’s account when he headed in a cross into the box on 89 minutes.

A minute later, however, Kambole broke through Namibia’s defence and blasted the ball through Max Mbaeva’s legs into the net to make the final score 4-1.

Zambia’s players celebrated joyfully at the final whistle, but when Guinea Bissau’s 2-2 draw in Bissau was finally confirmed, it was the turn of the Namibian players to celebrate as they ran over to their fans to revel in their qualification for Afcon 2019.

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