That’ll do for tonight. Absolutely chuffed for my fellow Southern African brethren. Now for South Africa to get the job done over Mali and complete the double!
With this win, their first ever in Afcon, Namibia go top of Group E. A simply astounding result.
As for Tunisia, well, they were pretty dire for the most part though they still had chances to win it. Sharper shooting, greater urgency in midfield and more visible desire is what’s needed as they navigate a tough road to qualification for the next round.
Taraa.
No question about this decision. He was fantastic.
🇳🇦 Daniel Hotto 🇳🇦
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 16, 2024
Namibia's match winner is your TotalEnergies Man of the Match! 🌟 #TUNNAM | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/xOfIAzlgY2
Full-time: Namibia 1-0 Tunisia
Oh yes they can! One of the great upsets in a tournament now being defined by upsets. Namibia’s first ever win in this competition and they fully deserved it. Both ‘keepers had storming games but it was Namibia who created more, were sharper in attack and hurried in midfield like a team that wanted it more. A brilliant night and a victory for the south of the continent over the more storied north.
Updated
90+5 min: Several Namibian players are out on their feet. We’re past the five minute mark. Can they hold on?
90+4 min: Tunisia on the attack but running into traffic. Namibia are defending for their lives.
90+3 min: Namibia have the ball in the net but it’s off-side. Namibia broke and Hotto slotted the ball in after collecting a wonderful ball against the grain. He was clearly off-side. I’m not sure why the player (I missed who that was, this is getting hectic) didn’t shoot. Anyway, Namibia are on fire!
90+2 min: Srarfi replaces Achouri who seemed to have run out of steam. Three minutes to go.
90 min: Tunisia have a chance themselves. A ball from the left has Namibian defenders panicking. But no Tunisian can meet it and Kazapua collects. Five minutes added on.
Goal! Namibia 1-0 Tunisia
Finally they’ve done it! They deserve it. Hotto with a header from a deep cross on the left. Poor marking leaves him clear near the back post. The ball came from a long way out. Tunisia perhaps tried to play the off-side trap but it didn’t work. Hotto climbs into the header and smashes it into the net. He celebrates with a cartwheel and now Namibia are just a few minutes away from a historic first Afcon win.
Updated
87 min: Deflected just wide! Aprocius Petrus wafts at a loose ball from the corner and a Tunisian face diverts it wide. Another corner for Namibia.
86 min: Hotto goes for goal. It’s a decent effort. Whipped with real pace. But Ben Said gets a first hand on it and tips the ball over. This has been a game for fans of quality goal keeping. Still, Namibia will press again with a corner.
85 min: Nifty footwork from Hotto – who has been the best player on the park – wins Namibia a free-kick on the right of Tunisia’s box. A decent ball and they could be in.
83 min: Slimane is off. There goes the sole Premier League rep. Ltaief comes on. Attacker for attacker. Tunisia know they have to win this.
80 min: A free-kick for Namibia now. It’s short but it sits up for a shot from Bethuel Muzeu on the edge of the area. It’s wide. But shows how delicately this is poised.
78 min: My goodness! Another world class save from Namibia’s keeper Kazapua. A clever overhead hook at the near post tees up an onrushing Msakni who couldn’t time his header any better. It looks destined for the top corner until Kazapua leaps and tips it over the bar. A brilliant save keeps this level.
76 min: Corner for Namibia. They’re loading bodies around the near post. An interesting tactic. There are four of them jostling for space in front of that post. Plenty of space elsewhere in the box. The ball is too long and is punched away by Ben Said. Legs are hacking at a loose ball and the whistle goes. Was there a hand-ball by a Tunisian player? No says the referee. In fact it’s a Namibian hand-ball so it ends with a Tunisian free-kick from their own box.
74 min: A cute ball from a central position by the Tunisian captain Msakni finds Slimane in open space inside the box to the left of the goal. But a poor touch sees it out for a goal-kick. Not for the first time, a better touch from a Tunisian player could have seen them get a clear shot away.
71 min: Another top save from Kazapua! Achouri on the gallop can’t get to the through ball before the angle becomes acute and his side-footed effort is smothered by the ‘keeper who makes himself big as he covers ground. Excellent save.
And time for a drinks break.
70 min: So close again for Tunisia! A good free-kick from the left draws Kazapua out. He flaps at it and there’s a flick-on that just evades the far post. Again I ask, how is this goalless.
68 min: Namibia have seemingly settled into a more defensive pattern. Or Tunisia have come out of their shells.
66 min: Slimane shoots from distance and there’s an appeal for a hand-ball. Shot was never on and it’s a credit to Namibia’s defence that forced the skipper’s hand/boot.
64 min: Oh crazy! Kazapua’s clearance booms upfield and now Namibia have a chance. A low ball into the box by Hotto sits nicely for Shalulile who spins and shoots but it’s blocked. How is this still goalless? Fair play to both teams. They’ve really upped the entertainment value in this second half.
63 min: Outstanding sweeping from Kazapua who exploded off his line to deny Maaloul a chance to shoot. The left-back suddenly found himself in acres of space on the overlap and were it not for the ‘keeper, he’d have had a clear run on goal from just outside the box.
62 min: Petrus Shitembi is hooked for Ngero Katua. It’s a defensive switch on paper but could see Namibia assert dominance in midfield.
60 min: Namibia on the ball again after a ropey spell. Petrus puts his foot on it to slow things down. But Tunisia start clattering into tackles. Namibia do likewise. Neither side can get control. Madness in the middle. Game needs a goal.
58 min: Jouini with another shot from inside the box. This wasn’t an easy one. On the volley and the half-turn, he drags it wide. Was called for off-side though I don’t think he was. Tunisia starting to flex a little. A greater sense of urgency from the Eagles of Carthage (don’t you just love that name?)
55 min: Jouini with a golden chance. The ball breaks in the box and the striker pulls his shot. He was about six metres from goal. Sure, he was on the angle to the left of the goal, but he missed by some distance. Watching the replay I actually have no idea how he didn’t at least find the target. A shocking miss!
53 min: A rare chance for Tunisia. Half a chance actually. A long ball finds Achouri in space on the left deep in Namibian territory. He can’t control and it comes to nothing. A better first touch and he had a clear path to goal.
52 min: No they can’t. But before Tunisia can counter they have the ball nicked off them. Namibia operating at a faster speed.
50 min: INCHES! Maybe just an inch. Shalulile ought to have scored. Hotton on the right blitzes round his defender and delivers a wicked low ball. Shalulile, diving in, gets the ball stuck under his feet and it squirts towards the goal but just won’t go in. Tunisia scramble it away for a corner. They must defend another corner. And another. Namibia hammering the front post with these deliveries. Can they make it fourth time lucky?
49 min: It’s still early in the half but this looks better from Tunisia. They’re less rushed on the ball and showing more respect to Namibia’s high defence. Though, as I type that, a wayward pass allows Namibia to counter. Nothing comes of it, but that’s a template for Namibia.
48 min: Namibia seemed spooked by that chance. Scrambling defence gets it clear. Now they’re settled and on the front foot. But their attack came to nothing.
46 min: Oh, almost a goal immediately! A corner to Tunisia is brilliant met by a firm flick off the head of Msakni at the near post. He’s kept out by a sharp save by a leaping Kazapua who tips over.
Half-time change for Tunisia. Hertha Berlin midfielder Laidouni replaces Romdhan to, hopefully, establish some control in that midfield.
Don’t let a goalless first-half turn you off. In fact, don’t let a goalless 95 minutes turn you off because the day’s earlier game between Burkina Faso and Mauritania was settled in the 96th minute with what was effectively the last kick of the match.
Half-time: Tunisia 0-0 Namibia
It wasn’t a classic. Far from it. But it did show that the underdogs have come to play. Namibia, unfancied before kick-off, bossed that half and perhaps should have been ahead. Tunisia were pretty dire. A major rethink is needed during the break.
45+3 min: A dribbler of a shot near the corner of the box by Shalulile. Before that Namibia played some nifty football to make the space but it was a snatched shot that harmlessly dribbled wide.
45+1 min: Four added minutes. Might be more as Jouini has clattered on the half-way line.
44 min: Slimane hacks Nyambe’s calf. A chance for Namibia to get it in the box. It’s a deep cross which isn’t cleared. It almost falls for a man in red but it’s hoofed away in a hurry by one in white.
42 min: The in-swinging corner is defended well. Namibia get the counter going but swift work from Ben Said sweeps away the danger.
40 min: Corner for Tunisia. A bouncing ball eventually ricochets off a Namibian with Sheffield United’s Slimane causing problems. Achouri needs a wad of tissue to mop the blood up his nose after the ball smashed his nose.
39 min: Tunisia try to hack their way out of trouble but there’s no space to do even that. Namibia charge forward and get a block on the hoof. The ball bounces out for a throw but that’s yet another example of Namibia’s tenacity.
38 min: Tunisia have the ball in midfield for the first time in an age. Namibia are closing space down before it opens and Msakni feels he has no choice but to launch it long. It’s a bit aimless. Namibia back in possession and firmly in control of this now.
36 min: Achouri, the Copenhagen forward, injects a bit of life into the Tunisian attack. He’s switched wings and finds himself in a one-on-two situation. He jinks one way then the other and beats both defenders before delivering a cross to the near post. But it’s too close to Kazapua who smothers it low. Better from Tunisia. Get the ball back to Achouri.
34 min: Good from Hotto. Getting more involved for Namibia. Slick interplay in midfield. They’re starting to keep the ball on the deck and they’re proving they can play. The ball has to come in and it’s a floated delivery. Ben Said comes out to gather, fumbles, but eventually has it under control.
32 min: Namibia have dominated possession since the drinks break. Shitembi playing the conductor role for the Brave Warriors.
30 min: A free-kick from way down town from a Namibian boot has Ben Said off his line. Then he changes his mind and finds himself in no-man’s land. It bounces in the box but no Namibian attacker can react in time. It’s out for a goal-kick but again, jitters from Tunisia at the back suggests that Namibia could nick this.
28 min: Namibia counter. Shalulie has numbers either side. He goes right and it’s cut back infield. Players are flooding forward but a brilliant tackle on the retreat by Msakni snuffs out the danger. Seriously impressed with Namibia. They’ve exceeded expectations after half an hour.
Drinks break: Tunisia won’t be happy with how this has gone. Namibia will be delighted. Their long ball, aggressive tackling strategy is working and they might have been in front had one of Shalulie’s first-time shots not been directed straight at Ben Said.
25 min: Corner for Tunisia thanks to a rampaging run on the overlap by Maaloul. His cut-back is deflected out. KAzapua flaps at the floated ball but there’s no danger.
We’ll take a drinks break.
24 min: Been impressed with Namibia. They’re clearly the less technical side but they’ve battled and defended well. Tunisia perhaps need to slow things down. They seem too eager to move the ball upfield and are flooding forward after it. Once Namibia nick it off them they’re left short at the back which explains why Namibia have had several decent chances.
22 min: Tunisia with a slick move down the left. They should stick with that flank. They get to the byline but the cut-back finds nothing but air.
Oh now Namibia have a chance. Hotto is free inside Tunisia’s box. Shoot! No, instead he chooses to cross and it dribbles out for a goal kick.
Hard to figure out if this has been very dull or really exciting.
18th min: Namibia are merely launching it long. One raking pass finds Nyambe on the left but he can’t link up with a mate. Tunisia for their part are trying to pass there way up field, and are now probing the left, but Namibia are tackling well. It’s a stalemate.
16th min: There’s another foul in midfield with another pl;ayer left clutching his leg. It’s Petrus of Namibia. If I’m being honest, this has been pretty dull so far despite the three shots on target. Someone needs to get control in the central area.
14th min: Everything is going down Tunisia’s left, Namibia’s right. The attack breaks down so Namibia can set their own attack. But that channel is seeing all the action so far.
Khnissi’s race is run unfortunately. Jouini with the No. 9 on his back enters the scene.
12th min: Namibia with a free-kick from the right. It’s a poor one. Well short of the mixer. A speculative bicycle kick from the edge of the area balloons over the bar.
10th min: Kechrida takes a shot from distance on the angle. High and wide but that wasn’t an easy shot to take. He was set up by neat work by Tunisia down their left. They’re having joy down that flank. Once they pass their way round Namibia’s press they gallop into midfield and the pass across Kechrida is an inviting one. Maybe he should have recycled the attack but I don’t mind seeing him take a pop from there.
8th min: Tunisia under siege! Namibia steal the ball and counter swiftly. Shalulile really should have scored. A low cross from the left is well met but again his first time strike is straight at Ben Said. Credit to the ‘keeper though. He was off his line in a flash to smother the shot.
7th min: Namibia with a shot on target from nowhere! A cross from the right is met by Shalulile who swings a right boot at it. It’s not thundered but it is on target. Straight at the keeper.
6th min: Namibia finally get them ball thanks to a needless foul in midfield. Tunisia much sharper with it and with a more energetic and better drilled press.
4th min: A third corner in succession. Namibia make a mess of clearing it twice so have to defend again, this time from the opposite side of the pitch. It goes to the near post and a stiff header from Taha Yassine Khenissi is on target is well saved by Kazapua.
3 min: Tunisia with the ball looking to maintain width. Their wingers are hugging the touchlines. Namibia with two defensive blocks. A ball against the grain has them scrambling back and it’s bounced out for a Tunisia corner.
1 min: Ben Romdhan is fouled in midfield so Tunisia have the ball back. Slow start as they feel each other out.
Peeeep! We’re off. Namibia in red shirts and green shorts. Tunisia in all white.
While we wait, take a gander at the Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly. That right there is a football stadium. No doubt about it.
Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly looks extra ready ahead of kick off! 🤩🇨🇮 #TUNNAM | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/tJI9hsaD9P
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 16, 2024
Five minutes to go. Still no live broadcast. Guess we’ll switch over as it kick-off.
A shout out to the man in the middle, referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan.
Loads of his fellow Somalia and this is a Pan-African tournament. So let me join the love-in and wish him well.
Somalia’s own Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be officiating tonight’s Tunisia VS Namibia game at Africa Cup of Nations, wishing him the best of luck and a remarkable performance pic.twitter.com/VUMFQUvcBv
— Mohamed Ahmed Cantoobo (@Cantoobo) January 16, 2024
A reminder of the other two teams in Group E.
It’s none other than the great Bafana Bafana, winners in 1996 and custodians of the greatest football shirt ever made (go look up South Africa’s gear when they won the competition. It’s sublime).
They’ll take on Mali at 8pm. Both sides will be banking on beating Namibia and will expect a tough assignment against Tunisia. So, an upset here will go down a treat.
There’s just one Premier League player in action in this one.
That’s Sheffield United’s Anis Ben Slimane who starts for Tunisia.
Derby’s Ryan Nyambe is Namibia’s sole English representative.
In fact, other than Aprocius Petrus who plays for the Kosovo club Liria Prizren, Nyambe is the only European based player in the Namibian side.
Tunisia have loads of European experience. Three play in France, three in Germany, two in Switzerland and one each in Hungary, Italy, Denmark and Greece.
Will that count?
The gods appear to be on Namibia’s side. At least according to some superstitious fans.
SHOWERS … Downpours soaked the streets of Windhoek on Tuesday, bringing much needed refreshment. Some residents took to social media to say the showers were a good omen ahead of the Brave Warriors' clash with Tunisia at the African Cup of Nations at 19h00 today. pic.twitter.com/u37oK4QSkb
— The Namibian (@TheNamibian) January 16, 2024
Burkina Faso (a dark horse for many) needed a 96th minute penalty to beat Mauritania 1-0! I’m telling you, this Afcon is as mad as I’ve ever seen!
Team news
Tunisia starting XI: Ben Said, Kechrida, Meriah, Talbi, Maaloul, Skhiri, Ben Romdhane, Ben Slimane, Achouri, Khenissi, Msakni
Subs: Laidouni, Haddadi, Ltaief, Srarfi, Valery, Sliti, Ghram, Hassen, Abdi, Rafia, Jouini
Namibia starting XI: Kazapua, Nyambe, Amutenya, Haukongo, Tjiueza, Limbondi, Shitembi, Petrus, Hanamub, Shalulile, Hotto
Subs: Haoseb, Gebhardt, Hambira, Katua, Kambato, Muzeu, Kamatuka, Papama, Ndisiro, Wendell, Kamberipa, Maova
Tunisia Vs Namibia starting lineups. #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/c9Gx59X8lW
— AFCON 2023 (@DiskiAfrika) January 16, 2024
Updated
Preamble
It’s been an Afcon of upsets, shocks and surprises. So although this one might look like a gimme for a team that has won this competition against a team that had previously only qualified once before, all bets are off.
Tunisia, though, will still fancy themselves. The 2004 champions topped their qualifying group and have a striker in Yousef Msakni who is looking to score in a record-equalling sixth Afcon tournament.
Namibia will lean on their forward Peter Shalulile who plays for South Africa’s leading club, Mamelodi Sundowns. Their one and only appearance on Africa’s grandest stage came in 2019 where they lost all three group matches.
This is only the two nations’ second ever meeting and the first in a competitive setting. Way back in 2007 Tunisia triumphed 2-0 at home.
It’s all pointing to a comfortable win for the Eagles of Carthage over the Brave Warriors, but as we’ve seen, nothing is guaranteed in this bonkers event.
Kick-off at 5pm GMT. Teams and more updates to come.
