Windhoek: Young Warriors head coach Lucky Shipanga has expressed confidence in his new-look Under-20 national team ahead of the upcoming Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) Under-20 Championship in Mozambique.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the 2026 Cosafa Under-20 Championship will feature 12 teams competing for regional honours and qualification for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament is scheduled to take place from 18 to 27 September at the Est¡dio do Zimpeto in Maputo.

Announcing the squad, Shipanga stated that players were selected based on their potential, discipline, commitment, and willingness to compete, rather than their reputation or previous involvement with the national team. "This is a new project and, from my experience as a coach, you have to work with players who understand the level and where we are heading," Shipanga said.

He mentioned that joining the team without prior knowledge of all the players personally had worked to his advantage during the selection process. "It was good to come in not knowing all the players. I only knew the players by their numbers. When I started, I realised that we have a group of players who can make it," he said.

Shipanga highlighted that the team had played more than three friendly matches against competitive opposition, which helped him assess the players and determine where they could best contribute to the team. "Those matches also gave me a headache in terms of selection because they helped me understand where each player fits and make the right choices," he noted.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress of the younger players, including those who graduated from the Under-17 national team, noting that they demonstrated pace, goal-scoring ability, and determination to compete for places in the Under-20 squad.

While acknowledging that the Young Warriors are still developing as a team, Shipanga conveyed his belief that the squad has the potential to compete against more established sides at the tournament. "I don't underestimate any nation. But I believe that wherever we go and whatever we do, we are there to represent the nation. It is about identifying players who understand where Namibian football is going, giving them a platform to prove themselves and developing a group that is willing to fight for the national shirt," he asserted.

Namibia will open their campaign against Mauritius at the Est¡dio do Zimpeto on Friday, 18 September, with kick-off scheduled for 12h00 Namibian time.