Namibia upbeat despite Burundi slip-up

Namibia™s 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign got off to a poor start as they dropped two valuable points at ˜home™ to 10-man Burundi.

The Brave Warriors were held to a 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium on Saturday in their opening Group C encounter, with back-to-back PSL Footballer of the Season Peter Shalulile having scored their only goal.

Coach Bobby Samaria™s side opened the scoring in the opening 10 minutes before The Swallows levelled matters two minutes from full-time through lanky striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana.

Bimenyima was subsequently sent off following a second yellow card for his celebration, during which he lifted his shirt over his head to reveal a message on his undergarment.

Samaria was disappointed with the result, in a group with only three teams - including 2022 AFCON hosts Cameroon, after Kenya were banned from international competition by world governing body FIFA.

"I think we take it with a pinch of salt because we were leading, we had an early goal and wanted to kill it off by getting a second one - it was not to be," bemoaned Samaria.

"Sadly in the dying minutes, because they piled the pressure [and it] paid dividends and they got their goal - it's a point.

"They came here, got the goal and we can equally go there and also get two goals, so for us it's not all lost. We keep on, we keep our heads high and try again."

Namibia will next travel to Cameroon before returning to South Africa to host the return leg against the Indomitable Lions in September.