LIVESCORES MATCH REPORT
Namibia 1–0 Congo: Bethuel Muzeu header seals winning AFCON 2027 qualifying start
Namibia opened Group G with a 1–0 win over Congo in Gaborone, as Bethuel Muzeu’s 47th-minute header delivered three points before a quick turnaround to the away fixture against Comoros.
Namibia made a winning start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 1–0 victory over Congo in Gaborone, Botswana, on Thursday. The result gives the Brave Warriors three points from their opening Group G fixture and an early platform in a six-match qualifying campaign.
The decisive moment arrived two minutes after half-time. CAF reported that South Africa-based attacker Bethuel Muzeu headed Namibia in front in the 47th minute, and that proved to be the only goal of the match.
Muzeu delivers the breakthrough
CAF’s match report said Namibia had the larger share of possession, while Congo still created opportunities but struggled with the accuracy of their finishing. Riaan Hanamub was also singled out by CAF for his work from full-back and his forward runs.
The narrow scoreline reflects a match in which Namibia could not simply coast after taking the lead. Congo remained within one goal throughout, meaning the hosts had to protect their advantage until the final whistle. For Namibia, the value was straightforward: a clean sheet, a match-winning contribution from Muzeu and maximum points from the first qualifier.
The fixture was staged in Gaborone rather than Namibia. Before the match, The Namibian reported that the Brave Warriors were again required to play a home fixture outside the country because Namibia did not have a CAF-approved stadium available. The same report noted late squad disruptions involving injuries and travel-document issues, adding context to a result achieved despite an imperfect build-up.
Why the opening win matters
Group G contains Namibia, Congo, Cameroon and Comoros. CAF’s qualification format places the four teams in a home-and-away group over six matchdays, with the top two teams in groups that do not contain one of the tournament’s three co-hosts progressing to the finals. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will stage AFCON 2027.
That format means an opening victory is useful but not decisive. Namibia still have five qualifiers to negotiate, including away trips and return fixtures against the same three opponents. What Thursday’s result does provide is immediate breathing room: they have already banked three points before the second matchday.
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What it means / what happens next
Namibia’s turnaround is short. CAF lists their next Group G qualifier away to Comoros on Tuesday, 29 September, with kick-off at 11:00 GMT, which is 13:00 SAST. Congo are scheduled to host Cameroon later the same day.
For the Brave Warriors, the immediate task is therefore to carry the momentum from Gaborone into another direct group test. A second positive result would strengthen the value of Thursday’s win, while the compact September window means there is little time to dwell on the opener before attention shifts to Comoros.