Namibia pick up a massive point against Cameroon

Namibia strengthened their chances of qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after holding Cameroon to a 1-1 draw at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Friday night.

The Brave Warriors took a surprise lead through Peter Shalulile just before the half-hour mark in their Group C qualifier, but they were unable to hold on for victory after Oliver Kemen rescued a point for the Indomitable Lions 18 minutes from time.

Rigobert Song's side remained top of the group on four points, while the Southern Africans moved ahead of Burundi into second place to keep their Afcon hopes alive.

The hosts made a bright start and threatened after just five minutes when Ignatius Ganago pushed his shot to the right of the goal before Moumi Ngamaleu cleared the target from distance in the 14th minute.

After Olivier Ntcham dragged his shot past the right post from outside the box, Collin Benjamin's team went up the other end of the pitch to score from their first attack on 26 minutes.

The in-form Shalulile, who has bagged 11 goals for Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership this season, beat Devis Epassy with a strike from range to break the deadlock.

Cameroon looked for a swift response as Jean-Charles Castelletto steered a header wide of the right post from a 29th-minute corner but the visitors finished the half strongly, with Denzil Haoseb heading a free-kick wide of the left post in stoppage time before Deon Hotto tested Epassy from long range.

The Group C leaders had the first sniff at goal after the restart when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa headed a free-kick wide of the right post in the 48th minute, while Ryan Nyambe almost doubled Namibia's lead seven minutes later with a header that flew inches over the crossbar from a corner.

However, the Indomitable Lions grew into the ascendancy as the second half progressed and created a whole host of chances, with Nouhou Tolo coming closest when he directed a header narrowly beyond the left post from Zambo Anguissa's cross in the 70th minute.

The equaliser they were threatening eventually arrived two minutes later when Kemen rose above his marker to head home Pierre Kunde's delivery.

Ignatius Ganago nearly gave Cameroon the lead on 79 minutes with a shot from close range that was expertly saved by Lloyd Kazapua, while Moumi Ngamaleu sent his header fractionally over the goal from Zambo Anguissa's cross five minutes from time.

Cameroon (0) 1 (Kemen 72')

Namibia (1) 1 (Shalulile 26')

Cameroon:D. Epassy, M. Bokele (J. Mbekeli 46'), C. Wooh (N. Nkoulou 44'), J. Castelletto, N. Tolo, O. Ntcham (P. Kunde 71'), O. Kemen (E. Mahop 84'), A. Zambo Anguissa, B. Mbeumo, I. Ganago, N. Moumi Ngamaleu.

Namibia:L. Kazapua, R. Nyambe, C. Hambira (A. Gebhardt 44'), D. Haoseb, R. Hanamub, A. Iimbondi (E. Kamatuka 90+4'), D. Fredericks (M. Papama 90+5'), N. Katua, D. Hotto (J. Kamatuka 72'), P. Tjiueza (E. Kambindu 73'), P. Shalulile.