CHAN 2020: Namibia Fall To Guinea As Zambia Pip Tanzania

Namibia got off to a disappointing start at the African Nations Championship after falling 3-0 to Guinea on Tuesday night.

Guinea looked strong in all departments with a sublime performance in both stanzas with Horoya AC striker Yakhouba Barry netting a brace and Morlaye Sylla’s strike just before the break sealing the group D win for Syli Nationale.

Coming to this match, the books favoured the Guineans and they took advantage with a quick offensive start.

Just 13 minutes into the match, a faulty back pass from defender Emmanuel Heita to goalkeeper Edward Maova was intercepted by Barry for the opener.

The Namibians had a succession of chances but were unable to capitalize them, with Marcell Papama and Absalom Limbondi failing to put the southern Africans back to the game.

A minute before halftime, Morlaye Sylla took advantage of sloppy defending by Namibia backline to extend Guinea advantage.

Namibia brought in Wesley Katjiteo to try to inspire a second-half comeback but he was culpable for the third goal. First, he gave away a free-kick on the edge of the area and later left Sylla to race down the line before his feebly struck ball was touched by Maova but the latter’s effort was not enough to prevent the ball from entering the net.

Namibia will face Tanzania in the next Group D match on Saturday at the same venue hoping for a convincing win against the East Africans.

Tanzania had earlier lost 2-0 to Zambia after second-half goals from by captain Collins Sikombe and Emmanuel Chabula in a match played in Limbe.

Later on Wednesday night, Group A matches enter second day with hosts Cameroon playing Mali and Burkina Faso up against Zimbabwe.

The African Nations Championship was originally scheduled to take place in April last year but was one month earlier as coronavirus swept the globe.