Namibia qualify for the Nations Cup for the first time since 1998

Namibia sensationally snatched a place at the 2008 African Nations Cup after a surprise 3-2 away win over Ethiopia on Saturday.

A last-minute goal by Muna Katupose earned the Brave Warriors the Group Ten win and top spot after favoured DR Congo could only draw 1-1 at home against Libya.

Namibia climbed from third place before the final-round qualifiers to finish first with 10 points.

DR Congo took second position with nine points in one of the most intriguing of the 12 mini-leagues.

Libya are third with eight point while Ethiopia have six.

Ranked 32nd out of 53 African countries, Namibia trailed twice in the stamina-sapping 2,400-metre altitude of Addis Ababa before grabbing only a second appearance at the showpiece of African football.

The Brave Warriors previously qualified in 1998, losing to Ivory Coast and South Africa and drawing with Angola.

The squad coached by Zambian Ben Bamfuchile were considered outsiders when the race to reach Ghana began.

Birhanu Bogale gave Ethiopia the lead on the stroke of half-time and Rudolph Bester levelled midway through the second half.

Salhadin Said to put the home team ahead again just 180 seconds later but Bester equalised after 81 minutes.

Katupose became the hero of the south-west Africa country whose national team comprises footballers based in Namibia and neighbours Angola and South Africa.

Needing a win to secure a ninth consecutive visit to the Nations Cup, DR Congo went ahead just before half-time in Kinshasa when Shabani Nonda converted a penalty awarded for a foul on Mbala Mbuta.