AFCON: 2023: Giant Killer, Brave Warriors seek double against wounded Bafana Bafana

Posted : 21 January 2024

After emerging as winners in the most unexpected manner, the Brave Warriors of Namibia will once again seek another victory over their neighbor, South Africa, in the second round of the Group E pairings.

The Brave Warriors of Namibia have done the unthinkable in their first match against one of the tournament's favorites, Tunisia, who are superior to them on paper.

The shock 1-0 victory propelled by the Brave Warriors of Namibia over the Carthage Eagles was one of the most unexpected results in the bookmakers' records, owing to the fact that the victory was the first ever in the history of the country.

For the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, it's time to find a way to heal their significant wound inflicted by Mali, as they lost 0-2 to the Eagles in the very first of the Group E fixtures.

With the unfortunate loss, Bafana Bafana should concentrate on how they can earn their first point in the AFCON against a country that caused the greatest shock of the tournament, the Brave Warriors of Namibia, at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Hugo Broos-tutored team will have in mind that the fixtures against the Brave Warriors of Namibia are make or break, as anything other than victory will automatically seal their fate in the tournament.

However, a win for the Brave Warriors of Namibia will qualify them for the next round of the knockout stage, which will be their first-ever qualification since the tournament started.

Although the Bafana Bafana look like a team out of touch, especially with their display against the Eagles, there is room for improvement that must be corrected before facing the Brave Warriors of Namibia, who have nothing to lose.

Indeed, Bafana Bafana had more possession in their match against Mali; yet, they failed to convert their chances, especially as Al Ahly midfielder Percy Tau missed a penalty in the opening 20 minutes of the contest.

The Eagles improved as the match continued, and they were by far the better side in the second period as they pulled away from the South Africans with goals from Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko.

A defeat for Hugo Broos's side would likely see them on the brink of elimination from the tournament, but it is worth noting that they have not suffered a loss against the side from across the Orange River since 1998.

History is on Bafana Bafana's side, though, as the 1996 AFCON champions have never lost their first two games in succession at an AFCON competition since 2008.

For the Brave Warriors of Namibia, they have caused arguably the biggest upset of the competition to date by beating one of the tournament favorites, Tunisia, in their opening match, securing not only their first win over the Eagles of Carthage but their first win at an AFCON as well.

In their three previous AFCON campaigns, Namibia had finished at the bottom of their group each time and had an all-time record of seven losses and just two draws.

Having been unbeaten in their last three matches in all competitions and having maintained five clean sheets in their last six, the Brave Warriors will likely feel that they could not have chosen a better time to face their old foes.

The pressure is on South Africa to get a win, especially with a difficult final group match against Tunisia likely to determine their fate.

Namibia were deserved winners in their first match, and while they would relish the opportunity to beat their neighbors, they would likely settle for a draw here, which would put them in a very strong position to reach the last 16.

It should be an intense match between two sides that know each other very well, and there will be nothing to split them at the final whistle.

AFCON: 2023: Giant Killer, Brave Warriors seek double against wounded Bafana Bafana

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