WINDHOEK – If you are a football fan who feels disappointed by Namibia’s failure to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil – please don’t despair.
The Namibian Football Association (NFA) has lined up a mouth-watering international friendly against one of Africa’s five representatives at next year’s global showpiece. The Brave Warriors, as the national senior football team is affectionately known among its ardent followers, will take on Ghana’s Black Stars in Windhoek on January 4 2014.
The Black Stars second strings wil use the match as a warm-up ahead of their participation in the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals to be hosted by South Africa.
Namibia’s football supremo, John Muinjo, announced the good news yesterday adding that the Ghanaian Football Association has also agreed to use Namibia as their camp ahead of the continental second tier competition catering for locally based players only. The Black Stars are expected in Namibia next week on December 23.
“We are very good friends with the Ghanian Football Association (GFA) and the ties between these two countries come a long way. When we approached them to come and put up camp here en route to South Africa for their CHAN adventure, they did not hesitate and accepted our noble invitation to come here.”
Muinjo added that it’s very important to engage other African countries in order to keep the Warriors coach busy with the curent crop of players at his disposal. “We are pleased to have a good relationship with the Ghanaian FA and hope to finalize another friendly against them prior to the World Cup. In fact, we are looking at friendlies against two international teams that will represent Africa at the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti says he will announce the squad to play Ghana later this week. The Black Stars will be based in Bloemfontein to start their assault in the the 2014 CHAN in South Africa on January 8.
Ghana is drawn in a relaively easy Group C featuring Libya, Ethiopia and Congo. The 3rd edition of the biannual continental championship takes place between January 11 and February 1 2014 in South Africa.
By Staff Reporter