Windhoek – With Namibia’s recent Cosafa Cup historic triumph now a well-documented success story, Brave Warriors mentor Ricardo Mannetti says his charges are now fully focused on achieving continental glory when they travel to Niamey on Thursday for their 2017 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Niger, on Sunday.
Speaking from the High Performance Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, where the team has been doing its preparations ahead of the Niger clash, Mannetti assured that his boys would not be intimidated by the West Africans and their boisterous massive crowds.
“The time has come for us not to be intimidated by the condition in West Africa. We have a team full of talent, belief and the right mentality to fight and win and we have and will prepare well for the conditions and that is why we played Ghana away a few months back,” explained Mannetti.
“The players understand what they have set for themselves now. The bar is definitely higher and we have the responsibility to match it all the time. Therefore, everyone here knows that we need to improve as the competition we are facing going forward will be improved as well. We have come a long way and still have to complete the journey,” added a confident Mannetti.
No injuries to the called up players were reported as of yesterday and the spirit in the Warriors nest is reportedly high, with the players rearing to go for the jugular against Niger come Sunday.
Namibia is in Group H of the 2017 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers and are yet to play the likes of Senegal and Burundi on their way to Gabon 2017.
The team of 20 players and another extra nine left Namibia last Saturday and have since been based at the Pretoria High Performance Centre.
The squad in Pretoria is as follow: Virgil Vries, Ananias Gebhardt, Willem Mwedihanga, Chris Katjiukua, Ronald Ketjijere, Deon Kavendji, Wangu Gomes, Petrus Shitembi and Denzil Haoseb, Peter Shalulile and Benson Shilongo, Maximillian Mbaeva, Gregory Aukumeb, Denis Tjetjinda, Neville Tjiueza, Willy Stephanus, Joslin Kamatika, Heinrich Isaack, Itamanua Keimune, and Sadney Urikob.
The extra nine players are: Loydt Kazapua, Charles Uirab, Benyamen Nenkavu, Ferdinand Karongee, Brian Gurirab, Absalom Iimbodi, Charles Hambira, Tiberius Lombaardt and Dynamo Fredricks.
by Otniel Hembapu
– Additional reporting: nfa.org.na