Namibia Secures Historic AFCON Victory, Stuns Tunisia with 1-0 Win

Namibia achieved a groundbreaking upset by defeating Tunisia 1-0 on Tuesday, marking its inaugural victory in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In its fourth AFCON appearance, Namibia had struggled in previous finals, with no wins in the nine matches played—seven losses and two draws.

Ranked 115th globally, 87 places below Tunisia, Namibia emerged as a deserving victor, with midfielder Deon Hotto securing hero status through an 88th-minute goal.

Hotto’s decisive header sparked jubilation on the Namibian bench and in the stands. The 33-year-old leaped over advertising hoardings to celebrate with ecstatic fans.

This triumph adds to the series of unexpected outcomes in the Ivory Coast-hosted tournament, including Ghana’s 2-1 loss to Cape Verde. Egypt needed a last-minute Mo Salah penalty to salvage a draw against Mozambique, while Algeria, Cameroon, and Nigeria faced surprising draws in matches they were heavily favored to win.

Tunisia, the 2004 AFCON champion and Group E’s top seed, now faces a challenging path to the knockout stages, with upcoming matches against Mali and South Africa.

The next test for Tunisia is a formidable encounter against the No. 2 seed, Mali. Anything less than a victory could cast doubt on Tunisia’s qualification. Meanwhile, an energized Namibia will face South Africa.

The remaining Group E matches on Wednesday, featuring Morocco vs. Tanzania and DR Congo vs. Zambia, will conclude the opening round fixtures.