Namibia head coach Collin Benjamin says it’s about time his nation enjoyed the winning feeling after receiving beatings in all aspects of life.
The Southern African nation secured their first-ever win at the Africa Cup of Nations with a major scalp of Africa’s third-highest ranked side Tunisia in their Group E opener.
It puts them in a favourable position ahead of South Africa before their meeting on Sunday at the Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly but reflecting on the win – he dedicated the triumph, which was secured by a late Deon Hotto header, to those from his country.
“This is huge for Namibia, we’ve always got beatings, us as a country we always get beatings, economically, politically and in a lot of spheres, so these Brave Warriors brought some restoration [of pride],” the former Hamburger SV midfielder said in the post-match press conference.
“It’s nation-building, it’s pride and this is just for every Namibian, wherever they find themselves in this wide world of ours, it’s for them and it’s just a huge thing, I can’t even imagine what’s happening on the streets of Windhoek, Oshakati, everywhere, but this is for you Namibians and we’re all proud.”
The 45-year-old is the youngest coach at the current AFCON in Ivory Coast and has been with the Brave Warriors since 2018 when he joined then-head coach Ricardo Manetti as the assistant coach for the national team.