Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The senior national football team, the Brave Warriors, kept their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup alive after a 1–1 draw against Equatorial Guinea on Monday afternoon.
Namibia now has 12 points from six games and remains second in Group H, one point behind Tunisia, who lead the group with 13 points and have played one game fewer.
Equatorial Guinea is fourth with seven points, though that could change if the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) restores the six points deducted earlier in their campaign.
The deduction came after the team selected an ineligible player, Emilio Ensue, who had previously represented Spain at the youth level.
The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation appealed the decision earlier this month, and FIFA has since declared the player eligible. However, a final decision is still pending.
Namibia took the lead in the 51st minute through a goal from captain Peter Shalulile, but Equatorial Guinea equalised four minutes later.
After the match, Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin said the team played better in the second half and created strong chances.
“We played well and controlled the game. Even after we conceded a goal four minutes after we scored, we were still pushing… and we saw those set-pieces from Dion Hotto and put their defence under pressure, so I think we deserved to win even though we didn’t win. But that is football and move on to the next game,” said Benjamin.
Before the match, Minister of Sport Sanet Steenkamp and Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti wished the team well and reminded the players and coaching staff that they are ambassadors representing Namibia, and the nation is fully behind them.
