The Brave Warriors will be making their
AFCON 2024 appearance in Ivory Coast this month. They had
previously featured in the 1998, 2008 and 2019 editions.
This is all you need to know about Namibia ahead of AFCON
2024.
This year’s competition is officially named AFCON 2023 since it
was initially scheduled to take place last year but was postponed
until January-February 2024.
Namibia AFCON 2024
schedule
Namibia were alongside South Africa, Tunisia and
Mali in
Group E.
The Brave Warriors will play their first two group games at the
Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, while the third match will
take place at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pédro.
16 January 6pm: Tunisia – Namibia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Stadium
21 January 9pm: South Africa – Namibia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Stadium
24 January 6pm: Namibia – Mali, Stade Laurent Pokou
How did Namibia qualify for
AFCON 2024?
Namibia were pitched against Cameroon, Kenya and Burundi.
Following Kenya’s withdrawal from the qualifiers, the group was
left with three teams and Namibia secured qualification by placing
second behind Cameroon.
The Brave Warriors accumulated five points with a win, two drawn
games and a defeat.
Day 1: Namibia-Burundi (1-1)
Day 2: Kenya-Namibia (cancelled)
Day 3: Cameroon-Namibia (1-1)
Day 4: Namibia-Cameroon (2-1)
Day 5: Burundi-Namibia (3-2)
Day 6: Namibia-Kenya (cancelled)
Namibia’s last 10
games before AFCON 2024
The Brave Warriors have won only two of their last 10 games.
They’ve lost four and have recorded four draws.
Sao Tome and Principe-Namibia (0-2) – 2026 World Cup
Qualifiers
Equatorial Guinea-Namibia (1-0) – 2026 World Cup
Qualifiers
South Africa-Namibia (0-0) – Friendly
Namibia-Botswana (0-0) – Cosafa Cup
Namibia-Eswatini (1-2) – Cosafa Cup
South Africa-Namibia (1-1) – Cosafa Cup
Burundi-Namibia (3-2) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
Namibia-Cameroon (2-1) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
Cameroon-Namibia (1-1) – CAN 2023 Qualifiers
Namibia-Zambia (0-1) – Cosafa Cup Final
Namibia’s history at AFCON has been characterised by resilience
and challenges, as they have made only three appearances since
their debut in 1998. Despite their efforts, they have experienced
early exits in each tournament, finishing at the bottom of their
groups.
In their debut in 1998, they showed promise with a draw against
Angola, but subsequent losses to Ivory Coast and South Africa left
them at the bottom of the group. A decade later in 2008, Namibia
returned, aiming for improvement. However, losses to Morocco and
Ghana, along with a draw against Guinea, led to another early
exit.
In the most recent AFCON, the Brave Warriors faced familiar
opponents – Morocco, South Africa, and Ivory Coast – and suffered
defeats in each group stage match, marking their poorest
performance. As they gear up to face Tunisia, Mali, and South
Africa, the Brave Warriors are determined to make a new chapter in
their AFCON history.
Advancing beyond the group stage has become their rallying
call, with supporters optimistic about a potential turning point in
this tournament.
Convincing results like the four points gained from a maximum
six at the expense of Cameroon and a recent draw earned against
South Africa stirs hope. Namibia’s squad blends experience and
determination, ready to tackle the formidable challenges
ahead.
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Namibia coach: Colin
Benjamin
Transitioning from assistant coach to head coach in 2022,
Benjamin’s leadership and experience aim to guide Namibia through
the challenges and maximize the squad’s potential. As a former
footballer himself, Benjamin will have to share with his players in
their quest to etch their names in the country’s folklore.
Player to watch:
Peter Shalulile
Namibia’s current top scorer with 16 goals in 49 matches,
Shalulile’s goal-scoring prowess and experience make him a critical
asset. At 30, the Mamelodi Sundowns attacker has scored 11 goals in
16 games, heading into the tournament with superb form. He can
wreak havoc when given a metre of space.
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Namibia’s AFCON 2024
preparations
The Brave Warriors camped in Ghana and played a friendly with
Legon Cities, a Ghanaian Premier League club before the tournament.
They also engaged the Black Stars of Ghana in their last friendly
before departing for Ivory Coast on 8 January.
Namibia’s AFCON 2024
squad
Goalkeepers
Loydt Kazapua, Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Edward Maova
Defenders
Ananias Gebhardt, Ryan Nyambe, Riaan Hanamub, Kennedy Amutenya,
Denzil Haoseb, Charles Hambira, Aprocious Petrus, Ivan Kamberipa,
Lubeni Haukongo
Midfielders
Ngero Katua, Marcel Papama, Petrus Shitembi, Prins Tjiueza and
Uetuuru Kambato
Forwards
Wendell Rudath, Absalom Iimbondi, Peter Shalulile, Deon Hotto,
Joslin Kamatuka Bethuel Muzeu.
Source link : https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/namibia-afcon-2023-squad-fixtures-opponents
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Publish date : 2024-01-16 08:00:00
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