Bafana brilliance shakes Namibia: Collin Benjamin reflects on AFCON defeat

The Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium witnessed a class performance from Percy Tau, who ignited the scoreboard with a 14th-minute penalty, leaving Namibia grappling to regain control.

Namibia's Riaan Hanamub found himself at the centre of the storm, judged to have handled the ball in the area, setting the stage for Tau's precision from the spot. Themba Zwane swiftly doubled South Africa's lead, showcasing an impressive 25th-minute goal. Zwane contributed to the spectacle again with a breathtaking solo effort just before halftime to make it 3-0 with his second goal.

The game reached its pinnacle in the 75th minute when substitute Thapelo Maseko sealed Bafana's dominance with a fourth goal. Namibia's head coach, Collin Benjamin, commendably acknowledged the victors, stating, "Congratulations obviously, first of all, to South Africa. They deserved to win."

Despite the defeat, Benjamin reflected on the match as a valuable learning experience for Namibia, emphasizing the importance of rebounding in their upcoming clash against Mali. Benjamin acknowledged the challenges faced by Namibia in terms of transitions and managing second balls, pinpointing areas for improvement.

"It's definitely a learning lesson. I suppose it came at the right time because we still have a game against Mali. There's a lot to play for. The dream is still alive," Benjamin remarked.

As Namibia gear up for their final group game against Mali on Wednesday, Bafana ready themself for a showdown against Tunisia on the same day.

READ MORE: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to return for treatment for muscle injury at AFCON