Namibia winger Deon Hotto scored in the 88th minute, securing a shock 1-0 victory over Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday. This unexpected result continues the trend of surprise outcomes that have characterised the opening days of the tournament.
Hotto’s decisive goal at the back post handed Namibia, positioned 87 places below Tunisia in the world rankings, a well-deserved win. Namibia displayed greater enterprise and created better chances throughout the Group E encounter at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.
Competing in their fourth finals, Namibia had never experienced a victory in the Cup of Nations before this match. Despite having the opportunity to win by a more significant margin, poor decision-making hindered their efforts.
As the top seeds in the group, Tunisia struggled throughout the game, with goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said making several key stops to deny Namibia captain Peter Shalulile. Hotto, who wasted a clear first-half opportunity, eventually secured the victory with his late goal.
Namibia coach Collin Benjamin expressed the significance of the achievement, stating, “This is a massive achievement for us; nobody gave us a chance. This is for a country that really needs a lift.” Tunisia, considered favourites, were expected to dominate the match but looked nervy and out of sorts.
This result adds Tunisia to the list of former winners, including Ghana, who lost their opening match at the tournament. Other strong teams like Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, and Nigeria were also held in games they were expected to win.
Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “We lost control of the midfield and they caught us with their pace and aggression.” The tournament’s eighth appearance for Tunisia captain Youssef Msakni equals the record held by Rigobert Song (Cameroon), Ahmed Hassan (Egypt), and Ghana’s Dede Ayew.