Keetmanshoop: Omaheke became the first team to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup on Sunday morning, following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Omusati.According to Namibia Press Agency, the 24th edition of the prestigious tournament got underway on Friday at a packed Westdene Stadium in Keetmanshoop, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of youth football. Having topped Group A with five points, Omaheke carried their fine form into the knockout stages as they faced Omusati, who progressed as runners-up in Group D with two points.Omusati, champions in 2014 and again in 2024 when the tournament was hosted in Gobabis, struggled to make an impact against a dominant Omaheke side. Despite controlling much of the first half, Omaheke initially failed to convert their chances, while Omusati attempted to threaten on the counterattack. However, their resistance was eventually broken when a perfectly delivered cross into the box found an unmarked Ebson Mbaha, who calmly slotted home the only goal of the match.The second half saw both teams raise their intensity, but Omaheke maintained the upper hand, controlling possession and dictating the tempo during the closing stages. With their semi-final berth secured, Omaheke will now await the outcome of the clash between Oshikoto and Erongo. Oshikoto have been particularly impressive, emerging as the only team to win all their group matches, while Erongo advanced as runners-up in their group with four points from two games.This year's tournament, hosted in the ||Kharas Region, has attracted more than 600 young athletes competing in both football and netball. Since its inception in 2001, the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup has remained a cornerstone of youth sports development in Namibia, providing a vital pathway from grassroots participation to national recognition.