Football
KweséESPN Reporter 6y

Charles Hambira heads home as Namibia stun Ivory Coast

Namibia began their African Nations Championship campaign with a first competitive victory over the Ivory Coast when Charles Hambira headed home a stoppage-time winner.

Hambira's leap and pinpoint header was the last effort of the game, as the centre-back jumped to meet a Riaan Hanamub free kick to divert the ball past the sprawling Zadi Hortalin Ble in the 92nd minuted.

A draw would have been a fine achievement for a Namibian side competing at the CHAN for the first time, as Ricardo Mannetti's side largely stymied the Ivorian threat during a game low on quality.

The West Africans started strongly, with William Togui Mel and Fonsinho combining well, but their impetus appeared to fade as the Namibians weathered the storm.

Indeed, the Southern Africans grew into the game, with both Junius Theophelus and Petrus Shitembi demonstrating that the Brave Warriors were not simply there to make up the numbers.

Togui Mel also had an opportunity to break the deadlock when he cut in from the left and fired wide, but ultimately, it was the Ivorians who were made to rue their inability to establish their authority early on as Hambira headed home.

The win takes Namibia provisionally top of Group B, with Zambia and Uganda competing in the pool's later kick off.

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