Tough Test Ahead for the Warriors
The Brave Warriors faces a daunting task ahead in their qualifiers as they were defeated 2-1 by Guinea on Saturday.
The senior national soccer team, suffered their second consecutive defeat in their Group Two 2010 FIFA World Cup and CAF Africa Nations Cup Qualifiers as 45th minute long-range free-kick by Pascal Feindouno caught Esau Tjiuoro off-guard and subsequently gave the Syli National the valuable three points.
On the back of their two-nil defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe the previous weekend in Harare, the Brave Warriors were expected to beat Guinea, who themselves were licking their wounds after a two-nil defeat by Kenya in Nairobi, but the Warriors again failed to create promising opportunities.
The 2-1 victory over Kenya’s hero Wilko Risser was well policed by the Guineans while his brother Oliver together with Quinton Jacobs failed to make any meaningful waves in midfield.
Guinea took the lead in the 22nd minute after Feindouno threaded a great ball though that was misjudged by the central-defence pairing of returning captain Michael Pienaar and Hartman Toromba, and Ishmael Boungura scored from close range.
Recalled speedy winger Rudolph Bester had a busy afternoon as he tried to penetrate the Guinea wall and in the 34th minute was let down by indecision, ballooning the ball across and over the face of goal, whereas a simple cross into the box could have fell for any for his attacking teammates.
However, the youngster who plies his trade in the Austrian league, raced onto a great pass from midfield, cutting inside before cracking the ball past Kemoko Camara with just two minutes to play.
Lack of concentration caused the Warriors the points, after playmaker Feindouno cracked a free-kick on 45th minute past the wall and a slight deflection left Tjiuoro with no chance at all.
The defeat catapults Namibia to the base of Group Two on three points, with Kenya topping the group after their 2-nil win over Zimbabwean Nairobi. Guinea’s moves into third spot with four points equal with second placed Zimbabwe who edges them on goal difference.
The Brave Warriors next plays Guinea in Conakry on Saturday, June 21.
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