Brave Gladiators on Tuesday strode to an easy 2-0 victory over Lesotho in the final game of Group B at the ongoing Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Senior Women’s Championship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The Gladiators scored in each half through Memory Ngonda, whose curling left foot shot outside the 18-yard area slipped through the hands of the Lesotho goalkeeper Mamakhabane Makibinyane in the 17th minute.
Captain Zenatha Coleman added the second goal four minutes into the second half as her shot, also from outside the 18-yard box, beat Makibinyane all systems out to make it 2-0.
The Gladiators started sluggishly as they misplaced their passes with ease while failing to launch any sustainable attacks into the opposition’s half.
Lesotho was the first to threaten, but striker Boitumelo Rabane’s effort did not trouble Melisa Matheus.
As soon as the Gladiators got going, Lesotho became physical as they tried to find ways to stop the Namibian attacks.
Millicent Hikuam, Asteria Angula and Ngonda were solid in midfield while Coleman, Ivone Kooper and Fiola Vliete were fluid in attack.
The defence was well marshalled by vice-captain Emma Naris and the experienced Veweziwa Kotjipati, while Anna Shaenda, who was earning only her third cap, once again impressed alongside Selma Enkali.
The victory sees Namibia finish the tournament with six points from three matches after winning two matches and losing one, with a goal difference of four.
Namibia lost 2-0 to Zambia in their opening match before beating Eswatini 5-1 and following up that victory with a 2-0 win over Lesotho.
Zambia qualifies for the semi-finals with a 100 per cent win record and nine points, as well as a healthy goal difference of 11.
The Gladiators’ semi-final fate is no longer in their hands as they have to wait for results from Group A between Mozambique and South Africa.
Namibia will be hoping for a South African victory or for a draw between those two sides to progress to the next round.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
