After a disappointing 1-0 loss to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in their 2024 Cosafa Women’s Championship opener on Tuesday, Namibia’s Brave Gladiators are focused on bouncing back against Seychelles. 

Gladiators’ gaffer Woody Jacobs attributed the  loss to a myriad of missed opportunities, but said all hope is not yet lost for the team. 

Speaking to New Era Sport from his base in Gqeberha, South Africa, he admitted that his charges’ inability to take their chances in front of goal had caused them, and that cannot be repeated against Seychelles on Friday. 

“We created chances, but lacked the finishing touch. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but we must move forward and focus on the next game. I think my players gave it their all, but the fact that we were not clinical has now placed us third on the standing,” said the coach. 

Tuesday’s defeat leaves the Gladiators with zero points, while Eswatini is leading the group followed by host nation South Africa in second place. Seychelles are placed fourth. 

Despite Tuesday’s loss, Namibia still has a chance to advance to the next round if they beat both Seychelles on Friday and Eswatini next Monday. And Jacobs remains optimistic about his team’s chances. 

“We came here to win the cup, I think it is still achievable. We need to collect maximum points in our remaining matches, and ensure that we don’t make unwarranted mistakes in those remaining games. I know the spirit in the camp is a bit down, but we must pick ourselves up and go out there and win our next encounters,” he said. 

Only the four group winners will advance to the semifinals. For the first time, all 14 Cosafa nations are competing at the regional showpiece, making it the biggest senior women’s competition on the African continent.

Equally, for the first time, the Fifa-approved Video Assistant Referee technology will be used from the final group games and onwards. 

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na