Maqonda Ndlovu
Brave Gladiators coach Paulus Shipanga says he is proud of the performance of his team in the two 2024 Women Olympic Qualifiers against Equatorial Guinea.
The Namibians last week triumphed over Equatorial Guinea by a 2-0 aggregate scoreline followed by a 0-0 draw in Malabo on Tuesday.
The Brave Gladiators had previously won the first leg of the fixture 2-0 at the giant FNB Stadium south of Johannesburg.
Speaking to New Era Sport from Guinea, Shipanga said the girls followed the game plan in both matches by making sure they did not concede any goals away after scoring two goals in the first leg.
“In Malabo, our game plan was just to protect our lead and not to concede. We wanted to score and kill off the game, but missed a few chances in a match played under difficult weather conditions. I am happy with a draw; we did our best, and I am proud of the girls,” Shipanga said.
He added that the girls are looking forward to playing Morocco, and hoped he is given the opportunity to continue coaching the team.
The Namibia Football Association recently advertised the position of head coach for the senior women’s team alongside other posts.
The former Brave Warriors speedy winger said he would use the Cosafa Cup as preparation for the two Morocco second-round qualifiers in October.
“These girls have come a long way, and it was exciting to see them achieve such a good result.
“I feel the excitement, the love, the respect, and the togetherness in camp. The girls are motivated; they are enjoying the fruits of their hard work. They are learning and pushing each other to do better every day. I am proud to say they are gladiators who are working hard to reach the next level,” Shipanga said.
For the Brave Gladiators to qualify, they need to navigate their way through three more tough rounds, having already knocked out former African champions Equatorial Guinea.
If Namibia beats Morocco, they will face either Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, or Tunisia in the third round.
Success in the third round will see the Brave Gladiators go on to face either Zambia, Burkina Faso, or Mali in the fourth and final qualification round.