COSAFA Cup: Namibia fight back to share spoils with Angola

Ivan Kamberipa’s injury-time header saw Namibia coming from behind to force a one-all draw against 10-man Angola in a dramatic Group B match of the 2025 COSAFA Cup in South Africa.

The holders thought they had won the maximum points when Lauridindo Aurelio converted from the penalty spot on the dot of full-time at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. However, the Brave Warriors pulled themselves back into the contest; Kamberipa rising to glance the ball into the net six minutes into added time.

Earlier, Namibia’s Wise Lifasi had fouled Pedro Francisco in the danger zone to cost the Brave Warriors the penalty, which Aurelio converted for Angola, only for Collin Benjamin’s men to equalize six minutes later.

The game saw the Palancas Negras taking on the Brave Warriors who they beat in the final of last year’s edition of the regional competition. Angola suffered a numerical disadvantage after being reduced to men following Randy Nteka’s dismissal for a rough challenge on Namibia striker Moses Shidolo in the 65th minute.

Just as has been the case in the previous three games, the referee consulted Video Assistant Referee before sending off the Angolan. That numerical disadvantage should have demoralized the defending champions. However, it re-energised them to fight for what appeared a lost cause. 

Actually, the Angolans looked dangerous with a man down. They should have scored before the penalty incident through Ambrosini Salvador’s header, but Namibia’s Willy Stephanus cleared the goal-bound ball off the goal-line.

Seconds later, the Brave Warriors conceded the penalty which started the dramatic end to the game.

Namibia’s next game is against Malawi on June 8 while Lesotho take on Angola on the same day. Only the group winner will proceed to the last-four stage.