Warriors suffer defeat to Niger

Namibian football fans were yesterday in tenterhooks as they awaited news regarding the Brave Warriors clash against Niger in the 2017 African Cup Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Niamey. The away fixture was the first group match for the Namibian team, who are attempting to reach Africa’s showpiece football tournament for the first time since 2008. With Namibia having recently won the Cosafa Cup in South Africa, a renewed interest in the team’s fortunes saw fans eagerly wait for any news. Namibia had started the match with the same line-up that won the final match of the Cosafa Cup against Mozambique. As it turned out the team was dealt a sucker punch in the 39th minute when they conceded a penalty, which was subsequently converted by Soulemane Sacko. The halftime score was 1-0 in favour of Niger and so it remained with the West Africans taking second spot in the group. Senegal had beaten Burundi 3-1 in the other group K match. Namibia’s next match in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers will see the Brave Warriors hosting Senegal on September 5. Best of starts Meanwhile, Cape Verde, Angola and Algeria got off to the best of starts in their first 2017 AFCON qualifiers on Saturday. Cape Verde demolished Sao Tome and Principe 7-1 as six different players got on the score sheet, with Djaniny netting a brace, while Angola thumped Central African Republic 4-0 courtesy of goals from Gerson, Dolly Menga, Gelson and Gilberto. Nigeria, looking to erase the memories of a woeful 2015 AFCON display, started well for the next edition by beating Chad 2-0 at home. Gbolahan Salami gave the Super Eagles the lead in the 63rd minute and despite going down to 10 men in the 79th minute when Ogenyi Onazi was dismissed, Odion Ighalo made the points safe with a goal from the penalty spot just a minute later. Algeria also got off to a convincing start, winning 4-0 against Seychelles as Hilal Soudani bagged a brace. Islam Slimani and Nabil Bentaleb got the other two. In earlier matches, Premier Soccer League (PSL) pair Cuthbert Malajila and Khama Billiat both scored in Zimbabwe’s 2-1 win in Malawi. Namibia starting XI: Virgil Vries - Denzil Haoseb, Willem Mwedihanga, Chris Katjiukua, Ananias Gebhardt-Ronald Ketjijere-Wangu Gome, Petrus Shitembi, Deon Hotto - Peter Shalulile - Benson Shilongo AFCON 2017 qualifying results Friday, June 12 Tunisia 8-1 Djibouti Morocco 1-0 Libya Guinea 1-2 Swaziland Saturday, June 13 Angola 4-0 Central African Republic Mali 2-0 South Sudan Uganda 2-0 Botswana Burkina Faso 2-0 Comoros Zambia 0-0 Guinea-Bissau Cape Verde 7-1 Sao Tome and Principe Nigeria 2-0 Chad Algeria 4-0 Seychelles Senegal 3-1 Burundi Malawi 1-2 Zimbabwe South Africa 0-0 Gambia -Additional reporting by KICK OFF WINDHOEK HECTOR MAWONGA