The Zimbabwean Warriors topped Group J in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Namibia at Orlando Stadium, marking their first win after two draws. Coach Michael Nees praised his team’s effort despite being outplayed, while Namibia’s coach expressed disappointment despite their better performance in terms of chances created. The matchup highlights the competitive landscape of the group as both teams prepare for a rematch.
The Zimbabwean senior men’s national football team, known as the Warriors, ascended to the top of Group J in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers following a narrow 1-0 victory over Namibia at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday afternoon. This victory marked the Warriors’ first win in the qualifying campaign after experiencing two goalless draws against Kenya and Cameroon the previous month. With this win, Zimbabwe now holds 5 points, placing them ahead of Kenya and Cameroon, both with 4 points, while Namibia remains at the bottom with no points. Despite being mostly outplayed by Namibia throughout the match, Warriors’ coach Michael Nees expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. In his post-match comments, he stated, “The game was a hard fight, exactly what we anticipated. We were fighting to have luck at the right time, that’s all we could do today. It was all about fighting until the end and we got a well-deserved win.” Although the Warriors have not yet displayed particularly entertaining football under Coach Nees, there has been a notable improvement in their defensive capabilities, as they have managed to maintain three consecutive clean sheets. On the other hand, Namibia’s performance has been disappointing; they have now lost three matches in a row in this group. Their coach, Collin Benjamin, expressed his discontent after the match, remarking, “Congratulations to Zimbabwe that is football, but I’m of the opinion that my team was the better team and created chances. We had about nine chances that we didn’t convert and in the end, we are sitting here with zero points and zero goals. This hurts especially when you know you were the better team.” Both teams are set to face each other again on Monday for a reverse fixture, also at Orlando Stadium.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a biennial international football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), featuring national teams from across the continent competing for the title. The qualifiers for the 2025 edition. This particular article focuses on Group J, which consists of Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, and Cameroon. Zimbabwe’s recent performance has allowed them to gain a leading position in this group after their victory over Namibia. The evolving dynamics within the group reflect the competitive spirit of the teams involved, particularly during the critical qualifying rounds for this prestigious tournament.
In summary, the Zimbabwean Warriors secured a vital 1-0 victory against Namibia, which propelled them to the top of Group J in the AFCON qualifiers. Although coach Michael Nees acknowledged the team’s struggle against a dominant Namibia, he celebrated the win as a culmination of perseverance. The defeat left Namibia’s coach, Collin Benjamin, frustrated despite his belief in his team’s performance. As both teams prepare for their next encounter, the outcome will be crucial for their aspirations in the qualifying process.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
