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• Doug Watson named Scotland head coach after successful interim spell

  Doug Watson has been appointed as Scotland’s new head coach, returning to the role he performed on an interim basis last year.

  The South African stepped in when Shane Burger departed for Somerset and successfully steered the side to victory in the T20 World Cup qualifier.

  He will now be the man to take charge of that tournament in the West Indies this summer, where Scotland will take on England, Australia, Oman and Namibia in the group stages.

  The 50-year-old takes up his post in April after completing the season with Auckland, who he has already led to the 20-over Super Smash title.

  “I’m really excited to be rejoining Cricket Scotland again. I had a wonderful time here in 2023 and I’m looking forward to getting back to work with the players and staff alike,” he said.

  “I love the city of Edinburgh and the Scottish people, and working with such a good group of players and seeing their determination and their passion to represent Scotland and the badge was a big part of my desire to come back.

  “We’ve got a lot of hard work to do ahead of the T20 World Cup, but there’s some great fixtures to look forward to. We play England and Australia, as well as Namibia and Oman, so they’re all going to be tough games, but we’ve also got to make sure that we see it as a wonderful opportunity to showcase our passion, our fight, and our skills.”

  Steve Snell, Cricket Scotland’s head of performance said: “We interviewed candidates across the world from a number of high-performance environments and it was a hugely competitive process.

  “Throughout, it was clearly evident that Doug is a high-quality coach with experience across a variety of environments. He is an excellent cultural fit for Cricket Scotland. He will make a huge difference to the game here, not just to the Scotland men’s squad but also within Scottish cricket as a whole.”

• Namibia hungry for more AFCON history in Angola upset bid – boss Collin Benjamin

  Head coach Collin Benjamin says Namibia are “hungry” to make more history at the Africa Cup of Nations as they seek to upset Angola.

  The Brave Warriors are through to the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time after finishing the group stage among the best third-placed teams.

  Group D winners Angola are favourites to become the first nation to reach the quarter-finals ahead of Saturday’s last-16 clash in Bouake.

  But Benjamin cannot remember a time when Namibia were not underdogs and believes there is a steely determination among his squad.

  “We have some good technical players with big hearts and there is the signature of the coach,” he said, according to cafonline.com.

  “It’s the determination, it’s ambition, it’s mentality, these boys want to succeed and they understand everything about the team.

  “We want to be part of the best 16 teams in Africa and definitely we are among the best 16 – it is a motivation in itself.

  “I don’t remember if Namibia will go into any game with the odds favouring us, it will always go against us.

  “Our coaches are educated to know that players are playing at good levels and they are hungry.”

  Angola are bidding to progress to the last eight for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010 on the back of wins over Mauritania and Burkina Faso and a 1-1 draw with Algeria.

  Head coach Pedro Goncalves is confident of ending the Black Antelopes’ lengthy wait for a quarter-final.

  “It has been a historic moment for us and we have a bigger game tomorrow, perhaps the biggest game in the last 14 years of the Angolan national team,” said the Portuguese.

  “For sure, it will be very tough but I have confidence tomorrow everybody will do a great job.

  “Namibia is a very powerful team, they are very brave.

  “We need to be considerate in our passing. We have to be balanced because if we lose our balance, Namibia can be dangerous for us.”

• Namibia keep Mali at bay to reach Africa Cup of Nations last 16

  Namibia qualified for the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after a goalless draw against Mali.

  The Brave Warriors, whose victory over Tunisia had set up the prospect of knockout football, lived up to their nickname with a resilient display against the misfiring Group E winners.

  After almost taking a surprise lead in the 16th minute when Prins Tjiueza’s angled shot was tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, Namibia focused mainly on damage limitation.

  They knew as long as they matched Tunisia’s result against South Africa they would progress as one of the best third-placed sides and the first two goalless draws of the tournament ensured that is how it played out.

  Mali dominated possession but their best first-half chances saw Fousseni Diabate cut in onto his left foot to force a good save from Lloyd Kazapua and Lassine Sinayoko plant a close-range header wide.

  Having managed just one shot on target, Mali coach Eric Chelle replaced both his strikers just a few minutes into the second half, bringing on Kamory Doumbia and Ibrahim Sissoko.

  With Namibia working hard to hold onto what they had and not over-extend themselves, the initiative remained with Mali but Sissoko’s main contributions were to balloon a shot way over from the edge of the area and then fail to connect with Nene Dorgeles’ cross into the six-yard box.

  Mali did not force Kazapua into a genuine save in the second half until five minutes from the end when he tipped Amadou Dante’s low free-kick around the post.