Namibia clinched a precious 1-0 victory on Sunday, defeating Togo at their backyard in Lome in their quest for a first-ever qualification to the FIFA World Cup.
With the race to Qatar 2022 gathering pace, the Brave Warriors could not have achieved a better result.
Having started their campaign with a draw against Congo, Namibia were well motivated heading to Togo who started their journey in the qualification campaign with a loss against Senegal.
At the Kegue Stadium in Lome, the first few minutes were fairly balanced, although Namibia created the best chances.
The southern Africans had a brilliant opportunity to break the deadlock after 31 minutes when Peter Shalulile broke through on goal.
But he could not beat Togolese goalkeeper Malcom Barcola one on one.
The home side struggled to create many chances in front of goal, but they only came close a few minutes to the break.
However, Kodjo Laba’s well-angled header could not go past goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua.
After a goalless opening half, the second stanza was always going to be tensely competitive.
It was the Namibians who would go for goal first, breaking the deadlock after 54 minutes through Elmo Kambindu’s brilliant effort.
Kambindu rifled in a bicycle-kick past the goalkeeper after picking up a free-kick delivered by Deon Hotto, which was deflected before falling brilliantly into the box.
Stunned by the goal, Togo began to play with more urgency.
Elom Nya-Vedji had an effort for the Togolese Sparrow Hawks, but his eventual shot from the right foot went over the bar.
Namibia almost scored a second goal, but Togo had the frame of goal to thank in the 74th minute.
That was when Shalulile put Absalom Limbondji through on goal and the latter was denied by the woodwork.
Namibia were almost made to pay for that missed opportunity just four minutes on the turn.
But their goalkeeper made a brilliant save to deny Laba, who had been Togo’s biggest threat on goal all game.
Paulo Duarte’s Togolese side kept the push to try and get something off the game and starve off a second consecutive defeat.
However, their efforts went to nothing as they could not find the back of the net for the second consecutive game.
With the result, Namibia move to top of Group H with four points pending Senegal’s match against Congo on Tuesday.
With no points and no goals, Togo sit bottom of the group.
Meanwhile, substitute Mostafa Mohamed scored a 90th minute equaliser to save Egypt’s blushes as they held Gabon to a 1-1 draw at Stade de Franceville on Sunday night.
Jim Allevinah gave Gabon the lead after 73 minutes, shortly after Egypt were reduced to 10 men following Omar Gaber’s sending-off for receving a second yellow card.
It seemed the Panthers were on their way to a historic win, but for Mohamed’s last-gasp equaliser.
Egypt now lead Group F on four points, while Gabon had their first point of the campaign.
In the other match in the group’s Match Day 2 action, Angola face Libya in Luanda on Tuesday.
It was a cautious start to the game with both sides trying to control possession.
Egypt had the first shot on target after eight minutes when Mohamed Sherif’s backheel pass found Mohamed “Afsha” Magdy who sent a shot just over the crossbar.
As time passed, Gabon started to find more spaces.
They had their first chance after 18 minutes, when skipper Pierre Emerick Aubameyang tried to find the best of goalkeeper Mohamed Elshennawy, but his shot went wide.
Guelor Kanga’s shot from long range went just wide after 35 minutes.
Sherif tried his luck after a swift counter-attack for Egypt but his shot was high, as the first half ended goalless.
After the break, Gabon were asking more questions, and five minutes into the second half Aaron Boubendza went one on one with Elshennawy who brilliantly saved the situation.
Mario Lemina’s header after a corner-kick threatened Egypt’s defence but went just wide, as the hosts continued to press.
Egypt hopes of a win were dealt a blow when Gaber was sent off for a second bookable offence after 70 minutes.
Just about two minutes later, substitute Jim Allevinah broke the deadlock.
The Clermont Foot forward found his way through Egyptian defence and exchanged a pass with Andre Biyogo Poko before sending a low shot past Elshennawy.
Egypt coach Hossam Elbadry made a number of attacking changes, fielding in strikers Mostafa Mohamed and Salah Mohsen, in the search for a late equaliser.
And both substitutes combined in the last minute to get the desired goal.
From a long pass, Mohsen’s header found Mohamed, whose initial effort was stopped by Gabon’s goalkeeper Anthony Mizwe.
But he followed up with a header powered home to give Egypt a precious away point.
In another match, Abdul Rwatubyaye’s fortunate 21st minute goal cancelled out Michael Olunga’s ninth minute opener as Kenya and Rwanda played to a 1-1 draw in Kigali on Sunday.
The match was another of the East African derby matches in Group E of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The draw meant Kenya temporarily go to second spot with two points, pending the tie between group leaders Mali and Uganda in Kampala on Monday.
Coming into the tie after a 0-0 draw at home against Uganda, Kenya looked to start the game better with an improved attacking Endeavour.
They went into the lead in the ninth minute when Olunga rifled home from close range with his weaker right foot.
But, the home side who lost 0-1 away to Mali in the first game got back on level terms in the 21st minute.
A cross from Haruna Niyonzima was headed goalward by Jacques Tuyisenge and it fortunately hit the back of Rwatubyaye, the ball changing direction and going past goalkeeper Ian Otieno.
It turned out to be a closely contested tie and the only other real chance in the half came six minutes from the break.
Masud Juma took a good run on the left before cutting back, but Eric Johannah slipped as he tried to adjust his body to take a shot.
In the second half, Rwandese goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure who plays his club football in Kenya with league champions Tusker FC made a great save just a minute in.
He tipped Olunga’s brilliantly-curled free-kick behind for a corner-kick.
The Harambee Stars then made attacking changes to keep the tempo up, Abdallah Hassan coming on for Lawrence Juma.
In the 57th minute, Olunga should have surely buried the second for Kenya when he picked the ball brilliantly on the left, skipped past one marker before dummying the second.
However, his final shot was way wide, just from the edge of the six-yard box.
The lanky forward had another chance three minutes later when Daniel Sakari’s cross landed on him at the back post but he bounced his connection just over.
In the 65th minute, Meddie Kagere who had come on as an early sub in the first half had a chance for Rwanda with a volley on the half-turn off a throw-in, but it went just wide.
With the clock ticking and a goal desperately needed, Kenya made another chance with Boniface Muchiri coming on for Johannah.
The Tusker FC forward had a chance to score six minutes from time off a counter, but he was clipped from behind by Rwanda skipper Haruna Niyonzima.
From the resultant set-piece, Muchiri curled his effort wide.
There was no change in score even with Kenya bringing on Henry Meja late on.
Uganda take on Mali in the group’s other game on Monday.
