Brave Warriors coach Bobby Samaria on Monday announced a squad of 35 players who have officially gone into camp ahead of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying matches against Burundi, Cameroon and Kenya next month.
On Wednesday, 25 of the 35 players in camp are expected to head to Johannesburg, South Africa, where the team will be based until they play against Burundi on 04 June at Orlando Stadium.
Brave Warriors’ second game will be against Kenya four days later in Nairobi.
But this match hangs in the balance as Kenya was suspended by the international football governing body, FIFA, due to that country’s government’s interference in the running of football.
On 19 September, the Brave Warriors will jet off to Yaoundé, Cameroon, to face the Indomitable Lions.
“I don’t know whether the exclusion of Kenya is already confirmed. But if they are indeed not part of the group, it will be a blessing in disguise because we will only have to focus on one team, Burundi,” Samaria said at a press conference on Monday.
One thing is clear for Samaria and his squad: they cannot underestimate Burundi who is considered the group’s underdogs.
“Remember we played Burundi in 2016. We played [an] away [game]. We beat them 3-1. Three or four days later, they came to Windhoek and then they reversed that scoreline and beat us 3-1 too. So it goes down to preparation,” he added.
Ahead of the Afcon clashes, the Namibian national team will play against Lesotho on Thursday.
“We started unofficially with our camp two weeks ago. I think the Namibia Football Association’s precarious financial position is in the public domain. It’s not for me to say why our preparation only started two weeks ago,” he added.
This is not an excuse, he stressed.
“We put in the shift. I believe that with your help [the fans], we will be able to pull through.”
Also in the mix was the announcement of Paulus Shipanga as Samaria’s assistant coach, following the departure of Robert Nauseb.
Below is the squad:
Goalkeepers: Kamaaijanda Ndisiro, Loydt Kazapua, Edward Maova, Mervin Kasetura and Ratanda Mbazuvara.
Defenders: Ryan Nyambe, Kennedy Amutenya, Ivan Kamberipa, Riaan Hanamub, Ananias Gebhardt, Vitapi Ngaruka, Larry Horaeb, Denzil Haoseb, Charles Hambira, Erasmus Ikeinge and Amazing Kandjii.
Midfielders: Dynamo Fredericks, Immanuel Heita, Wangu Gome, Petrus Shitembi, Bethuel Muzeu, Ambrosius Amseb, Wendell Rudath, Llewelyn Stanley, Deon Hotto, Alfeus Handura, Absalom Iimbondi, Wesley Katjiteo, Willy Stephanus, Marcel Papama and Monis Omseb.
Forwards: Elmo Kambindu, Peter Shalulile, Benson Shilongo and Joslin Kamatuka.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
