Maurice Kambukwe
Namibia’s U/20 football side Young Warriors arrived safely in Mauritania’s capital city Nouakchott, where they will continue with preparations for their maiden appearance at the Africa U/20 Cup of Nations (Afcon), which starts this weekend.
The continental youth tournament kicks off this weekend and runs until 4 March, and will see Namibia facing Group B opponents Burkina Faso, Tunisia and the Central African Republic (CAR).
Only the top two teams from each of the three pools and the two best-placed runner-ups will advance to the quarterfinals.
Speaking to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) media desk from the team’s base in Mauritania, Warriors gaffer James Britz said: “We are currently waiting on the confirmation of friendlies from Mauritania because we only played a few friendlies back home in Namibia against the senior national team and that was not enough game time. We still need more friendly matches to prepare the boys as our initial plan was to have four to six friendlies prior to the competition but due to Covid-19 restrictions and other unforeseen circumstances, we will settle for three.”
Britz said the spirit in the camp looks great and the new players in the squad are adjusting well and getting along with the rest of the group.
“Everyone is on a common mission and that is to try to reach the semifinals against all odds.”
Namibia will start their campaign with a clash against CAR on Saturday, before moving on to face Tunisia on 18 February in their second group match.
Their last group action will be against Burkina Faso on 21 February.
Last week, Britz had indicated that he had kept the core of last year’s Cosafa Cup finalists and during the December holidays, he brought in an additional 20 players from the regions but only 10 of those made the list of 29.
The 29-manYoung Warriors squad: Tully Nashixua, Immanuel Hamunyela, Denzil Narib, Pitsi Ameb, Romeo Amon, Xavier Mcclune, Edmar Kamatuka, Carl Tjipe Karuuombe, Rio Goagoseb, Ronin Brendt, Amazing Kandjii (Khomas), Steven Damaseb, Prins Tjiueza, Promise Gurirab, Herman Uwuseb, Tuhafeni Ananias, Gerson Paulus (Erongo), Ngazikue Kandetu, Ruhuka Ngatangwe (Omaheke), Mwanyekange Matheus (Omusati), Josef Erastus (Oshana), Juninho Jantze (Hardap), Eubrahim Apollus (//Kharas), Giovani Kaninab, Gonzales Tsuseb (Kunene), Ngero Katua, Garere Damaseb, Jovane Narib, Phillip Joseph (Otjozondjupa).
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na