RYAN Nyambe will be looking to guide Namibia to a first ever Africa Cup of Nations finals win when they face South Africa on Friday night (9pm).

The Brave Warriors qualified for their third tournament, but after ending the 1998 and 2008 competitions without a win, they are looking to reverse their fortunes this time around.

They went within a minute of valiant point in their opening group game against Morocco, only for their defensive resilience to be breached with seconds to play via a freak own goal.

Rovers defender Nyambe was making his first competitive appearance for his country in that game, after pledging his international allegiance to the country of his birth in April.

Their quest to not end this tournament without a win looks a tough ask, with well-fancied Ivory Coast to come in their final group game on Monday, July 1.

Coach Ricardo Mannetti captained Namibia to their first finals in 1998 and is now looking to be the man to inspire the country, ranked 113 in the world, to a first win.

He told his federation website: “I came to this tournament in 1998 as a player, bringing our country for the first time to the tournament. We were inexperienced and rookies. Now I’m here coaching and that feeling is priceless and difficult to explain. I feel fortunate to have been here as a player and as a coach, not many people can do it. We now want people to take note of Namibia football.”