Brave Warriors and Blackburn Rovers defender, Ryan Nyambe will again miss out on representing his country after sustaining a head injury on Tuesday during a league encounter.
He was scheduled to appear for Namibia against Senegal in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers on 9 October.
The return leg will be played three days later in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The 23-year-old right-back was replaced midway through the first half after going down following a knock to the head in a collision with Josh Koroma of Huddersfield Town.
Rovers said on its website yesterday Nyambe will not be joining Namibia in Dakar.
“However, due to concussion protocols and following guidance from the club’s medical department, Nyambe won’t report for international duty and won’t be involved against Blackpool this weekend,” the club said.
Nyambe already missed the September qualifiers, which saw Namibia draw 1-1 against Congo and win 1-0 against Togo.
Meanwhile, Samaria said the two games against Senegal are key to how they proceed in the qualifiers.
“Senegal is a powerhouse, but we have the drive and hunger to push them and we will plan well against them. It’s a crucial four or more pointer for us and then anything can happen,” he told the NFA media desk.
Senegal leads Group H on six points, with Namibia second on four points – three points ahead of Congo in third place with Togo pointless.
The Warriors started training on Monday in Windhoek with 12 local-based players that include goalkeeper Calvin Spiegel. They will depart for South Africa over the weekend to join up with the rest of the players.
After the two Senegal games, the Warriors will next visit Congo and host Togo as the group action concludes between 13 to 16 November.
The top team from Group H will join nine other winners for the second round of the qualifiers who will be drawn into five home-and-away ties. The winners of each tie will advance to the Fifa World Cup scheduled to take place in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022.
The provisional squad:
Local legion: Calvin Spiegel, Ivan Kamberipa, Charles Hambira, Immanuel Heita, Larry Horaeb, Aprocious Petrus, Dynamo Fredericks, Alfeus Handura, Wesley Katjiteo, Marcel Papama, Absalom Iimbondi and Issaskar
Gurirab.
Foreign legion: Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Lodyt Kazapua, Maximilian Mbaeva, and Virgil Vries, Ryan Nyambe, Riaan Hanamub, Gebhardt Ananias, Teberius Lombardt, Denzil Haoseb, Deon Hotto, Prins Tjiueza, Willy Stephanus, Elmo Kambindu, Peter Shalulile, Joslin Kamatuka, and Benson Shilongo.
- mkambukwe@nepc.com.na