- Deon Hotto scored a last minute winner
- South Africa beaten 2-0 by Mali
- Burkina Faso beat Mauritania
Namibia recorded their first ever Africa Cup of Nations win after stunning 2004 champions Tunisia 1-0 in their opening match at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo. Dean Hotto scored the lone goal late in the second half, to give the Brave Warriors a massive three points.
The Namibians didn’t have much of the possession, but with the little they got, they ensured they troubled the Tunisian backline.
Hotto scored with a brilliant header in the 89th minute, running behind the defense to connect to a brilliantly laid out cross from substitute Bethuel Muzeu.
Before that, they also had some chances with Hotto and skipper Peter Shalulile both being denied by the keeper on more than one occasion.
Namibia keeper with a stellar performance
Namibian keeper Lloyd Junior Kazapua also enjoyed a stellar performance between the sticks for his side, as he made several crucial stops to ensure that his side clinches victory, a historic one for that matter. Namibia are now just one win away from securing a place in the knockout phases for the first time ever.
Meanwhile, South Africa were made to pay for an early missed penalty after they were beaten 2-0 by Mali in their opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Korhogo.
Mali players celebrate their victory over South Africa. PHOTO/CAF
Percy Tau sent his penalty over in the first half and they were punished, with Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko scoring in the second half to give the Malian Eagles maximum points.
A VAR review in the 18th minute had handed South Africa a chance to break the deadlock after a handball inside the box, but Tau stepped up and sent his spotkick high over the bar.
In the second half, Mali stepped up their chase and they broke the deadlock on the hour mark when skipper Traore reacted quickest after Sekou Koita’s freekick came rattling under the crossbar. Traore was first on the scene to tap the ball home.
They made it 2-0 six minutes later when Sinayoko squeezed the ball between the keeper’s legs after being sent through on goal by Kamory Doumbia.
The win now sets Mali up well in the chase for a place in the knockout phase and victory over Tunisia in their second match will guarantee them qualification. South Africa will meanwhile take Namibia in a Southern African derby in their second match.
Burkina Faso edge out Mauritania
Action between Mauritania and Burkina Faso. PHOTO/CAF
Elsewhere at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Bertrand Traore stepped off the bench to score a late penalty as Burkina Faso kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a hard earned 1-0 win over Mauritania
Mauritania had put up a gallant fight against the Burkinabes, who had reached the semis on back to back occasions in their previous AFCON appearances. However, they cracked at the tail end, giving away a penalty.
Issa Kabore was hacked down inside the box by Nouh Mohamed as he went through on goal in the 94th minute. The referee had initially given a corner, but after being advised by the VAR officials to head down to the pitchside monitor, awarded a penalty.
Traore, who had come in midway through the second half stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to earn the three points for Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso had some good chances in the game with Cedric Badolo and Mohamed Konate threatening, but their efforts were thwarted by the Mauritanian keeper.
Mauritania also had a close chance when Aboubakary Koita initially caught Burkina Faso’s Herve Koffi off-guard with a free-kick, only to see the keeper produce an exquisite save.
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