-Khama Billiat’s composed penalty secured all three points for Zimbabwe.
-Namibia dominated possession but failed to capitalize on their chances, hitting the woodwork twice.
–Zimbabwe now leads Group J, putting pressure on Kenya to secure a win in their upcoming fixture.
Zimbabwe secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Namibia in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying Group J clash at Orlando Stadium on Thursday. The win puts Zimbabwe in pole position, one point ahead of Kenya, as the race for qualification intensifies.
The match began with Zimbabwe displaying dominance, controlling possession for the first 10 minutes. They kept Namibia at bay with a tight defensive coordination. Despite Zimbabwe’s early control, Namibia quickly adapted and pushed Zimbabwe back into their own half.
Namibia almost took the lead when Kennedy Amutenya’s header hit the woodwork in the early stages. This rattled Zimbabwe’s defense, signaling a fierce contest ahead. However, despite controlling much of the ball, Namibia struggled to break Zimbabwe’s well-organized backline.
Zimbabwe Capitalizes on Defensive Error
After surviving Namibia’s initial onslaught, Zimbabwe managed to regain control. In the 34th minute, a crucial mistake by Namibia’s Amutenya resulted in a foul inside the box. The referee had no hesitation and awarded Zimbabwe a penalty.
Khama Billiat stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the net. His right-footed shot gave Zimbabwe the all-important lead, despite Namibia’s earlier dominance.
Namibia came agonizingly close to scoring before the half time break. Prins Tjiueza’s powerful left-footed shot from inside the box rattled the woodwork once again. But luck was not on Namibia’s side, and Zimbabwe went into halftime with a narrow 1-0 advantage.
In the second half, Namibia came out with renewed energy. Star players Peter Shalulile and Romeo Kasume constantly tested Zimbabwe’s defense, particularly with aerial balls. Despite Namibia’s efforts, Zimbabwe’s defense held strong.
Namibia continued to press but failed to convert their possession into clear-cut chances. Zimbabwe’s narrow 1-0 lead remained intact until the final whistle, much to the delight of their fans.
Zimbabwe Tops Group J, Kenya Faces Must-Win Against Cameroon
The victory catapulted Zimbabwe to the top of Group J with five points from three matches. Kenya, sitting just one point behind after two games, now faces a crucial clash against Cameroon. A win for Kenya would see them leapfrog Zimbabwe and take control of the group.
