SOUTH AFRICA TROUNCE NAMIBIA REVAMPS POSSIBILITIES OF GOING FORWARD.
As the battle for survival rages on at the on going Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d Ivoire, the Group E got more interesting last night after South Africa buried Namibia 4-0 to register points on the log table following a terrible 0-2 at the hands of Mali in their opening match.
As things stand, Mali has 4 points in the bag, Namibia have 3 points after defeating Tunisia 1-0 days ago, South Africa are also on 3 points and Tunisia sitting at the bottom with 1 point.
As they say, football can be very cruel if you don’t take your chances. Namibia would be the 1st to testify to this old adage. They got hit for 4 yet they created 4 to 5 clear chances to score too. All these chances coming from fantastic crosses whipped behind the defence and of all people top man Shalulire failing to tap the ball in twice!!
On the other end, razor sharp Bafana-Bafana didn’t let chances go begging, they took them with both hands. Percy Tau opened the account on 14mins from the spot after a VAR check confirmed a penalty kick award from a handball situation.
Buoyed by a positive start, fluid and quick attacking South Africa were rewarded again on 25mins when Themba Zwane feasted on a delicious cut back into the box from a right wing attack to fire high into the roof:2-0.
At exactly 42minutes Zwane tore through a sluggish Namibian defence on the left flank and zoomed in on the near post from where he curved his effort to the far side to completely shatter the not so Brave Warriors.
In the 2nd half South Africa continued to launch dangerous counter attacks which Namibia still battling parried away. And when it appeared that Namibia had stabilized things, they were stabbed in the stomach by substitute Thapelo Maseko at 75th minute, who finished off a neat move with a left foot shot on a counter to complete a miserable evening for Namibia.
South Africa played better than they did against Mali before. On their part, Namibia defended badly and were blunt upfront hence the heavy loss.