Namibia’s Young Warriors crashed out of the 2023 Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) qualifiers following a 5-2 defeat to South Africa in Eswatini on Monday.
The Under-20 team needed nothing short of a victory to keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals alive from Group C.
They got off to a dream start as Alberto van Wyk scored the quickest goal of the tournament in the first minute of the game.
The goal unsettled the South Africans, who then laid siege to the Namibia goal and got the equaliser in the 17th minute through a headed goal by Brenden Duba from a set piece.
The Namibians regrouped and scored their second goal through Lawrence Doeseb, who finished off a rebounded effort from a set piece in the 30th minute to see Namibia take a 2-1 lead into the break.
South Africa bounced back within a minute of restart when Oshwin Andries scored a ferocious shot to level matters at two apiece.
The South African winger scored his second goal of the day in the 54th minute to make it 3-2 with Namibian goalkeeper Nelly Rooi at fault.
Rooi, who was under no pressure, spilled a harmless looking ball to present Andries with the easiest goal-scoring opportunity.
With the Namibians rattled, South Africa got their fourth goal in the 85th minute through striker Luke Daniels, who earlier had a goal disallowed for offside.
In injury time Relebohile Ratomo scored the fifth for South Africa as South Africa moved into second place ahead of Malawi on goal difference.
Namibia coach James Britz said things fell apart in the second half due to the lack of experience.
“South Africa were better than us tactically and our lack of football was evident in the second half as the boys got tired. Mentally our boys were not strong enough,” Britz said.
He called on the powers to fast-track the resumption of football in Namibia, saying the Under-17 team must also be allowed to play the upcoming Cosafa tournament as this will improve their character and make them competitive.
Comoros top the group with six points ahead of South Africa and Malawi, while Namibia are bottom with zero points from two matches.
Namibia’s last group game is against Malawi on 12 October.
The tournament is also an Under-20 Egypt 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier