Namibia did enough to secure a spot in the knockout stage after a draw in their match. They came closest to scoring when Prins Tjiueza hit the post. As one of the group stage's four best third-placed teams, the Brave Warriors will now face Group D winners Angola in the first knockout round, while Mali takes on Burkina Faso.
The result also left the host nation, Ivory Coast, anxiously waiting for their progression fate. They finished third in Group A and are now dependent on results in Group F to see if they qualify or face an early exit.
Mali had a smooth group stage, going unbeaten, and South Africa's 0-0 draw with Tunisia in the group's final game secured the Eagles' top spot. Namibia's survival against the West Africans means they join the ranks of underdog success stories, following in the footsteps of Mauritania, who also reached the knockout stages for the first time.
Looking ahead, Namibia's match against Angola kicks off the last 16 in Bouake on Saturday, while Mali will face Burkina Faso in Korhogo on Tuesday in the upcoming matches.
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