In a match that had plenty of opportunities for both sides, Namibia held out strong and found a winner in the second half to grab three huge points on the road against Togo in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying on Sunday. Striker Elmo Kambindu scored the winner early in the second half from a well executed overhead kick to position the Brave Warriors as the team most likely to challenge Senegal for the top spot in Group H, making it four points from their opening two games. Togo’s rebuilding process continues as Les Éperviers sit in last place with two losses to start their campaign.
Disappointing results from opening games meant that there was much to play for and plenty of urgency for each team to put their qualification campaigns on track. As a result, opportunities came at a high rate throughout the 90 minutes. The visitors from Namibia fired the first warning shot within the first ten minutes when Peter Shalulile slyly stole the ball from a Togolese defender on the end line, producing an open look from a tight angle that saw Togo keeper Malcolm Barcola do well to keep out.
The Togolese responded with multiple opportunities before thirty minutes were up. Tall striker Peniel Mlapa was involved in nearly all of them, missing a header from a 14th minute cross and then producing an excellent flick on target a minute later that was saved before Serge Nyuiadzi’s follow up was also denied from close range by Namibia keeper Lloyd Kazapua. Before halftime arrived, Namibian stars Peter Shalulile and Deon Hotto each had a look on goal but Barcola was at his best, especially when he saved with his foot on Shalulile’s breakaway opportunity.
With many missed opportunities and high quality goalkeeping being the themes of the match, a special moment was required to break the deadlock and it came in the 53rd minute. A free kick on the left wing for Namibia was curled in and the contested ball was headed high into the air. Elmo Kambindu had some room to gauge the ball and executed a sublime overhead kick that left Barcola motionless to put the Brave Warriors into the lead.
Mlapa had a couple more opportunities in Togo’s quest to level the match, but Kazapua was at his best on the day and did well to stave off the advances of the Sparrow Hawks. Absalom Limbondi also had a chance to put the match away for Namibia when he was sent in by a well weighted pass from Hotto, but his shot beat Barcola and was denied by the post.
Full match highlights are below followed by video of Kambindu’s outstanding winner.
