The senior national men’s football team, the Brave Warriors, will have everything to play for when they take on West African nation Senegal in a 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier tomorrow.
The Warriors play away in Dakar, before their return leg in Johannesburg, South Africa next Tuesday.
The Warriors are in Group H with four points behind log leaders Senegal, who are on six points, while Congo is in third place, with Togo without any points.
If the Warriors snatch a victory or at least a draw, they will be a step ahead in their dream to play in the next round of qualifiers.
Speaking to this publication yesterday, interim coach Bobby Samaria admitted that they will play against a strong Senegal side, but the Warriors will instead focus on their strengths and capitalise on Senegal’s weaknesses. He added that overall, the team remains ready.
“We are facing a very strong Senegalese team, which qualified for the 2018 World Cup and beat Poland. The team is in good physical condition, so we will run our socks off. Mentally, we are also in a good space, with no injury concerns,” Samaria noted.
Speaking to the NFA media desk earlier this week, Brave Warriors striker Peter Shalulile, who has been on a good spell for his club Mamelodi Sundowns, said they have got everything to play for against the Lions of Teranga.
The striker added that they remain positive ahead of tomorrow’s encounter, as well as the return leg. “We still believe the players are positive, and we take it one game at a time. We are not under pressure, and hoping for the best on Saturday,” he observed. “We discussed it, and the boys are aware of how key these games are. We have got to fight for a win or a draw, and take it to our next game. We are capable,” the 28-year-old forward enthused.
He added that the Senegal game will be very crucial in their journey to Qatar.
“I don’t want to put pressure on myself. We have quality players and if they score and I don’t, that is not important. It’s all about the team and the project. International football is more demanding and different from club football,” Shalulile said.
After the two back-to-back encounters against Senegal, the Warriors will next visit Congo and host Togo as the group action concludes between 13 and 16 November.
The Tafel Lager Brave Warriors squad: Calvyn Spiegel, Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Loydt Kazapua, Virgil Vries, Ivan Kamberipa, Charles Hambira, Immanuel Heita, Larry Horaeb, Aprocious Petrus, Dynamo Fredericks, Alfeus Handura, Wesley Katjiteo, Marcel Papama, Absalom Iimbondi, Issaskar Gurirab, Riaan Hanamub, Ananias Gebhardt, Teberius Lombardt, Denzil Haoseb, Deon Hotto, Prins Tjiueza, Willy Stephanus, Elmo Kambindu, Peter Shalulile, Joslin Kamatuka and Benson Shilongo.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na