Namibian clubs face uphill CAF battles
Namibia’s representatives in continental club football face uphill battles this weekend after both African Stars and the University of Namibia (UNAM) suffered defeats in their respective CAF competitions.
African Stars were beaten 3-1 by AS Mangasport in Gabon in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie, while UNAM lost 2-0 to Angolan side Kabuscorp in their CAF Confederation Cup debut.
African Stars must overturn a two-goal deficit in the return leg, with coach Ronnie Kanalelo admitting that his team’s biggest concern was not necessarily the goals themselves, but the manner in which they were conceded.
“We had good moments, one against one, and we thought we could have changed the whole momentum of the game. We should have taken the goal,” Kanalelo said.
He was particularly critical of the defensive lapses that allowed Mangasport to take control of the contest.
The first goal came after African Stars lost possession, while the second followed an overload on the right side that the Namibian champions failed to deal with.
Kanalelo also highlighted another defensive lapse from a corner in the second half, when his side failed to deal with the second phase of the set-piece.
Despite the disappointment, the coach believes African Stars’ goal could prove important in the return fixture.
“I’m happy that we scored, and that one goal can mean a lot. It can make a whole difference in the second game,” he said.
UNAM, meanwhile, face an equally challenging task after going down 2-0 to Kabuscorp in their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup match.
Head coach Robert Nauseb said nerves contributed to a difficult start, with UNAM giving possession away unnecessarily in their own final third before conceding from a set-piece.
“The game started and we were very nervous. The boys were nervous,” Nauseb said.
UNAM subsequently settled into the match and enjoyed periods of control, but struggled to turn their possession and opportunities into clear chances.
“We got back into the game and, in certain moments of the game, we took control of the game,” Nauseb said.
However, the final pass proved a problem when UNAM managed to get behind Kabuscorp’s full-backs, with Nauseb saying his side created opportunities but could not make the most of them.
The coach also acknowledged the experience of their opponents, who have competed in continental football on several occasions.
According to Nauseb, Kabuscorp created only two clear chances but converted both, underlining the importance of taking opportunities at this level.
“They only created two chances and they scored those chances. That’s how these types of games are being won,” he said.
Despite the defeat, Nauseb praised his players for their effort and believes the experience will benefit the team.
“I’m very proud of these boys. This is only a good way of picking up experience,” he said.
UNAM will now travel to Angola needing at least two unanswered goals to force the tie level, while African Stars will also require a significant improvement to overturn their 3-1 deficit.
For both Namibian sides, the return fixtures represent an opportunity to respond to difficult first legs and keep their respective continental campaigns alive.
