Zimbabwe Senior men’s football team, the Warriors, remain the favourites to proceed to the next round of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and Namibia will have to play above themselves in the second leg despite carrying a 1-0 aggregate lead.

The Warriors surrendered a nine-year unbeaten record in CHAN qualifying when losing 1-0 to the Brave Warriors in Windhoek Sunday.

Since debuting in qualifiers for the biennial competition, Zimbabwe had won 11 matches and drawn five with their first victims being Namibia.

But the Sunday Chidzambwa led Warriors who have been at every final in the competition’s existence now face a fight for survival at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday against rivals who have never played at the 16-nation tournament but Namibia coach Ricardo Mannetti said Zimbabwe remained the favourites going into Sunday's second leg. 

“Zimbabwe are still the favourites; they have just won the Cosafa Cup, they have a lot of players and a lot of depth, and they will be playing at home. So we will have to prepare very well and play above ourselves. If we don't display the same fight, the same tempo and attitude, we will find the going very tough in Zimbabwe,” he said at a press conference after the match. 

The Warriors looked dangerous in the first half and had several chances, but two great saves by the Namibian goalkeeper, Loydt Kazapua kept out efforts by Talent Chawapiwa and Raphael Manuvire.

Zimbabwe kept on attacking and had a goal disallowed for a foul by Chawapiwa shortly before halftime. 

Namibia, however, took the lead through Somaeb two minutes into the second half. 

The African Nations Championship - popularly known as the CHAN - is restricted to footballers registered with a club in their country of birth.

African football body CAF introduced the competition in 2008 to give local stars international exposure as most national squads are dominated by Europe-based players.