Namibia shocks Tunisia with historic 1-0 victory in AFCON opener

In a stunning upset, Namibia secured a historic 1-0 victory over 2004 champions Tunisia in their Group E opener at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

The first half proved to be a tight contest with few clear chances for either side. Despite Tunisia's dominance in possession, they struggled to break through Namibia's solid defence, expertly led by Ivan Kamberipa.

Captain Youssef Msakni attempted to test Namibia's goalkeeper, Lloyd Kazapua, with a curled effort, but the Brave Warriors continued to frustrate the Carthage Eagles.

As the game progressed, Namibia's resilience and organization thwarted Tunisia's star-studded attacking lineup. The minnows lacked attacking flair but compensated with tireless industry.

In the 89th minute, the decisive moment arrived. Deon Hotto capitalized on a long ball over the top, outpacing the Tunisian defence, and calmly slotted the ball past Bechir Ben Said, securing Namibia's historic victory. Hotto's second goal was disallowed due to an offside flag.

Namibia's resolute defence and Hotto's late heroics earned them a crucial three points, marking their first-ever win in the Africa Cup of Nations after playing their 10th game in the competition.

Post-Match Facts:

• Namibia's win against Tunisia is their first-ever victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, having played 10 matches in the competition (D2 L7).
• Tunisia has failed to score in six of their last eight AFCON games, matching the number of times they failed to score in their previous 24 games in the competition.
• Tunisia has not won their last five opening games in AFCON, with two five-game winless streaks in AFCON opening games.
• Namibia achieved their first-ever clean sheet in AFCON history, having conceded an average of 2.66 goals per game in their previous nine matches in the competition.
• Taha Khenissi became the first Tunisian player to be subbed off after playing less than 15 minutes in an AFCON game since Opta began collecting this data in 2010.

Namibia's victory places them at the top of Group E with three points, while Tunisia faces the challenge of recovery against Mali on January 20. Namibia is set to clash with regional rivals South Africa on January 21, enhancing their chances of progressing in the tournament.