Namibia Under-20s took all three points against Mozambique in the COSAFA Championship Group A, winning 1-0 on Saturday in Maputo. The result leaves the visitors top of the table with a perfect record, while the hosts drop to second place after their first defeat of the tournament.
R. Naobeb found the net in the eighteenth minute to settle the contest, and it proved to be enough. By then, both sides had already played three matches, so this encounter carried real weight for the group standings. The goal came early, and though the hosts pushed for an equaliser, the visitors defended well and held on.
To be fair, the result was not a surprise. Namibia had won all three of their previous games, including a narrow 1-0 victory over Mauritius just two days earlier. Mozambique, meanwhile, had already tasted defeat in this group, losing 1-0 to Zimbabwe in what turned out to be their only loss so far.
The visitors extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with this win, maintaining their perfect group record. They now sit on nine points, one clear of the hosts who have accumulated six points from two victories and one loss. The gap is small, but the quality of the wins matters — and Namibia's three consecutive victories give them the edge.
Mozambique will need to regroup quickly. They beat the Seychelles 4-1 on their last outing, showing plenty of attacking intent, but they switched off at a set piece against Namibia and paid the price. The hosts still have a chance to catch up, but they will have to be more disciplined if they want to stay in contention.
With just one group stage match remaining for both teams, this result puts Namibia in control. A draw or win in their final fixture would secure top spot, while Mozambique must win and hope for other results to go their way. The table tells the story — nine points versus six, and the visitors are the ones calling the shots.