The Namibia Under-17 team’s match against Angola in the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games has been cancelled following the disqualification of Angola after several of their players failed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.
The MRI wrist test of football players accurately determines the ages of football players below the age of 20 years by differentiating a completely open growth plate (15 years old and below), a partially fused growth wrist plate (16-18 years old) and a completely fused growth plate (19 years and older).
Following the suspension of Angola, Namibia’s game with their Northern neighbours on Friday was cancelled with the Baby Warriors now scheduled to face the hosts.
Namibia will now play hosts Malawi on Sunday, 04 December at 15h30 at the Bingu wa Mutharika Stadium.
Two days later, Namibia will face Botswana at the same venue at 12h00.
Speaking to Nampa in Lilongwe, head coach Gerald Gunther said preparations for the games had gone well and the players were excited to taste their first international competition.
“We had enough training time in Namibia, but we have struggled with transport here in Malawi leading to some training sessions being short. But I believe we are well prepared for these qualifiers. The spirit in the camp is very positive and we have made sure as a technical team to warn the boys about the tough situations that lie ahead of them,” he said.
He added that the disqualification of Angola had disrupted their preparations because they had motivated the players to perform well, noting that, however, playing hosts Malawi first will bring the best out of his team.
Gunter is being assisted by Marcello Wakudumo.
The AUSC Games Football matches will serve as the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifier for Algeria 2023.
Namibia is grouped with Malawi and Botswana in Group A, while Group B comprises South Africa, Seychelles, Zambia and Mozambique.
The two finalists of the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2023 AFCON scheduled for Algeria.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
