Brave Warriors captain Charles Hambira is convinced that the team has what it takes to make their way to the 2024 Cosafa Cup final.

Namibia will face Mozambique in the second semifinal of the Cosafa Cup at the 46 000-seater Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, South Africa at 18h00 today. 

The Warriors secured their spot in the semifinals by finishing second in Group C, just behind Angola, who topped the group with a better goal difference. Namibia’s campaign began with a draw against Angola, followed by a 2-1 victory over Lesotho, and a convincing 3-1 win over Seychelles.

Mozambique, who finished at the top of their group, reached the semifinals after a 1-1 draw against host nation South Africa, a 0-0 draw against Eswatini, and a 3-1 victory over Botswana.

Today’s match is crucial, with both teams aiming for a place in the final. Since 2012, Namibia and Mozambique have faced each other 12 times, with Namibia winning seven of those encounters, while Mozambique has won three times.

Reflecting on their journey and expectations, Hambira highlighted the importance of teamwork in reaching the semifinal, and expressed confidence in the team’s potential to make it to the final.

“It hasn’t been an easy journey, but unity in the camp propelled us to the next round. Everyone on the team, from the players to the technical staff, has done their part. Working together has brought us this far, and I am confident we will reach the next stage,” he said.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by their opponents, emphasising the need to stay prepared. “Mozambique is a tough team to play against. They are very physical, and have dangerous players upfront. It’s up to us to stay ready for this tough fixture,” he added.

Former Bafana Bafana defender Mark Fish praised the Warriors’ performance, noting their significant improvement in recent years. “Namibia usually performs well at such tournaments, but we have seen considerable improvement in their recent performances in the Africa Cup of Nations this year, and their dominance in the DStv Premiership. 

They have become a solid team, consistently producing good players. Their convincing performance against Seychelles shows they have what it takes to go all the way in this competition,” Fish said.

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na