The national under-20 women’s football team, affectionally known as the Young Gladiators, will get their 2022 Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign underway on Saturday when they face Burundi in Ngozi.
The team left yesterday for Ngozi, where they will play the first leg. The return leg is scheduled for 7 October in Johannesburg, South Africa – Namibia’s home ground.
The winner of the two ties will progress to the third round of the qualifiers.
Interim coach Rodney Wallace Doeseb is confident his charges will prevail against the East African country.
“Technically, the girls are promising – and now, we just have to make sure we get the combinations and tactics right ahead of the first leg. Away from home will be interesting; it will be a different ball game for our team, and we need to have that mental strength to hold our own and strive for a result,” Doeseb told the NFA media desk.
“These girls are still in school and have not played much, especially at this level – and now, they get this chance. Both sides will surely come out to play and put on a show. We look forward to the two legs indeed,” he added.
Africa will have two representatives at the final of the Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup that will be held in Costa Rica in 2022.
The tournament, staged every two years, will see 16 nations compete against each other for top honours. With continental qualification pathways leading to an exciting finals event, the competition has seen four past champions: USA, Germany, Japan and Korea DPR. Japan are the defending champions, having won their first title in 2018.
The squad: Vipua Tjingaete, Vejakura Tjingaete, Tandiwe Ndjavera, Mbakondja Kahiriri, Muninatjo Hanavi, Beyonce Cloete, Queen Neis, Priscca Amuntale, Chammel Engelbrecht, Vivian Engelbrecht, Isabella Kahuadi, Sylvonia Kloppers, Alisha Aebes, Jekohasana Kamatjipose, Sarafina Khuruses, Nguundja Tjozongoro, Lerato Swartbooi, Okeri Haakuria, Folilian Hikwafelwa, Diana Kock, Veronica April, Lee-zan Rooi, Kauhahiziua Kajovi and Shandre Jantjies.
- mkambukwe@nepc.com.na