Collin Benjamin looks back with pride at Namibia's best ever AFCON

This is how the Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin reacted when his team exited the AFCON tournament in the round of 16 on Saturday.

Namibia were thumped 3-0 by neighbours Angola at Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.

Despite this elimination, the opening 1-0 win over Tunisia will remain one of the most important results in the history of Namibian football.

READ: Guinea score late to see off Equatorial Guinea in AFCON last 16

"If you just think about it tomorrow morning but I'm already here where I'm saying, tomorrow morning you're gonna realise that it took us 26 years to record our first victory at the AFCON, 26 years. We came here in 1998 and 26 years it took us for our first victory and in 26 years we passed the group stage, and we came into the knockouts," Benjamin said. 

"So, we have to take these things step by step. We can really be disappointed, it's normal but it's a lesson that we have to learn that just gives us then the opportunity to say, we have to go back and we have to start working again."

Namibia had finished third in Group E, behind Mali and South Africa with four points. They showed some early promise in the game with the Angolans going one man down when goalkeeper Neblu was sent-off as early as the 16th minute.

The Brave Warriors failed to take advantage and their neighbours punished them instead.

"Ya, I think from a coach’s point of view, we settled very good, you could see the intention of the team. Then, I think obviously the turnaround was that penalty or not penalty, the sent off of the Angolan goalkeeper and what you know from your experience with football, that is a situation you don't want. You don't want that situation - I was hoping actually that it was not gonna happen."

Namibia were also reduced to 10-men after Cape Town Spurs defender Lubeni Haukeng was sent-off for a second bookable offense five minutes from halftime.

Gelson Dala went on to complete his brace and Mabululu scored a stunner late in the game.