Brave Gladiators, head coach Woody Jacobs has declared his charges ready to face South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in their opening group fixture of the 2024 Cosafa Women’s Championship.
The match starts at 17h00, and will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
Namibia and host nation South Africa are in Group A with Eswatini and competition debutant Seychelles.
“The team is in good spirits. We will have our first training session this afternoon (yesterday),” said Jacobs.
He added that although it will not be an easy match playing against a strong side like South Africa, he is upbeat that his charges are ready for the challenge.
He said the team is injury-free, and they should expect a great game today.
“Zenatha [Coleman] also joined the team, while Millicent [Hikuam] is expected to join the team later today (yesterday). We are wary of South Africa, but we are also confident of getting the better of them in the opening game, although it is going to be tough. It’s all systems go – no major injuries to report on. Just working on the final preps at today’s training session, and making the final selection,” he added. Only four group winners will advance to the semifinals, so there is little room for error.
Namibia faced Eswatini three times at the Cosafa Women’s Championship between 2018 and 2022, and won on each occasion.
Eswatini have yet to make it past the pool stages since their debut in 2002, while Namibia finished second in 2006 and fourth in 2022.
For the first time, all 14 Cosafa nations will compete at the regional showpiece, making it the biggest senior women’s competition on the African continent.
Malawi are the defending champions, the fourth side in as many years to lift the trophy after South Africa East African guest nation Tanzania and Zambia were also recent victors.
For the first time this year, the video assistant referee will be used from the final group games onwards.
The licensing of match officials in the region to use the system has allowed for a greater number of matches to feature the technology.
– Additional reporting from Cosafa.com
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na