Africa Cup of Nations: South Africa 1 Namibia 0

Namibia lost 1-0 for the second game running at the Africa Cup of Nations, with South Africa claiming its first points of Group D.

Bongani Zungu's second-half header earned South Africa a 1-0 win against Namibia that boosts its hopes of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations last 16.

Bafana Bafana were frustrated by Namibia for large periods at Al Salam Stadium on Friday but finally found a way through in the 68th minute. Zungu nodded in a corner to ensure South Africa joins Ivory Coast on three points after two games, though Morocco remains in control of Group D after claiming successive victories.

REPORT | Morocco 1-1 Ivory Coast

A low-quality first half was summed up by Petrus Shitembi dragging a poor shot wide of the target following a promising Namibia attack, while at the other end Hlompho Kekana was off the mark with an ambitious long-range effort.

Chances were also few and far between after the interval but Percy Tau should have done better after finding space in Namibia's box, only firing a tame strike straight at Lloyd Kazapua.

FULL TIME | South Africa - Namibia 1-0 #TotalAFCON2019#RSANAMpic.twitter.com/7R0QX1x3k4

— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 28, 2019

 

Buhle Mkhwanazi cleared Deon Hotto's effort off the line in the 65th minute as Namibia briefly threatened, but it was South Africa which clinched the points shortly after. A left-wing corner from Tau was misjudged by Kazapua and Zungu was left with the simple task of arriving at the back post to head the ball into the unguarded Namibia net.

Namibia's slim chances of qualification now rest on Monday's Group D closer against Ivory Coast, while South Africa wraps up its group-stage campaign against leader Morocco.

 

Key Opta Facts:

- South Africa has won its two encounters against Namibia at the Africa Cup of Nations (also 4-1 in February 1998).
- Bafana Bafana have won their first game at the Africa Cup of Nations since January 2013 (2-0 against Angola). It is also the first time since that game that they have kept a clean sheet in an AFCON game.
- Namibia is winless in its eight games played at the Africa Cup of Nations (D2 L6), failing to keep a clean sheet in any of these eight encounters (20 goals conceded).
- Bongani Zungu has scored his first goal at the Africa Cup of Nations, during his first game in the competition.