Angola Vs Namibia

Angola, the reigning COSAFA Cup champions, are set to begin their title defense against a familiar opponent, Namibia, on Thursday at the Free State Stadium in Mangaung. This Group B opener revisits a rivalry that peaked in the 2024 final, where Angola secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Namibia to claim their fourth title in the competition's history.

In the 2024 tournament, Angola's journey began with a goalless draw against Namibia. They then found their rhythm, defeating Seychelles 3-2 and Lesotho 3-1 in the group stages. A 2-1 semi-final win over Comoros set the stage for the final, where Angola's attacking prowess was on full display. Goals from Pedro Bondo, Depu, Vidinho (who scored twice), and Keliano Manuel sealed the emphatic victory. This win marked the largest margin in a COSAFA Cup final, surpassing Zimbabwe's previous 3-0 victories over Lesotho in 2000.

Despite their success in the COSAFA Cup, Angola's recent form has been inconsistent. They have failed to win their last three matches across the African Nations Championship and World Cup qualifiers. A first-leg win over Lesotho secured their CHAN qualification, but a draw in Libya and a 2-1 home loss to Cape Verde in World Cup qualifiers have left them fourth in their group, six points behind the leaders with four games remaining. A strong performance in the COSAFA Cup could provide a much-needed boost in what has been a challenging 2025.

Namibia, on the other hand, enters the tournament with better momentum. They are currently on a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions, including a successful CHAN qualification where they edged Lesotho on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw. In World Cup qualifiers, the Brave Warriors secured a 1-0 victory over Malawi and a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, placing them second in their group, four points behind Tunisia. These performances have positively impacted their FIFA ranking, climbing three spots to 108. Namibia will be eager to carry this momentum into the COSAFA Cup.

The Brave Warriors have a notable history in the tournament, with a title win in 2015 and runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2024. The heavy defeat to Angola in the last final remains a sore point, and Thursday's clash offers both a shot at redemption and an opportunity to start the campaign strongly.

Angola's coach, Pedro Gonçalves, has been instrumental in the team's recent successes. Under his guidance, Angola achieved their first AFCON knockout round victory by defeating Namibia 3-0 in the last 16. In June 2024, Gonçalves reached 50 matches as the national team coach and led Angola to their first COSAFA Cup win in 20 years. He has become the most successful coach in the history of the Palancas Negras, with 24 victories. His leadership will be crucial as Angola aims to defend their title.

Namibia's key player, Peter Shalulile, brings experience and goal-scoring prowess to the team. He has scored 16 goals for the senior national team, with his latest coming in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi in March 2025. Shalulile's presence on the field will be vital for Namibia's aspirations in the tournament.

As both teams prepare for this highly anticipated match, the stakes are high. Angola aims to reaffirm their dominance, while Namibia seeks to overturn past defeats and establish themselves as strong contenders. The outcome of this encounter will set the tone for Group B and could have significant implications for the rest of the tournament.