The draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers was conducted yesterday in Cairo, Egypt, with 48 nations divided into 12 groups of four teams each as Africa’s football giants begin their journey toward the continental finals.

The top two teams from each group will qualify automatically for the tournament, while groups containing one of the co-host nations will allow an additional team to progress to the finals. The 2027 Afcon tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in June 2027.

Namibia’s Brave Warriors were drawn in Group G alongside African heavyweights Cameroon, Comoros and Congo Brazzaville, setting the stage for what is expected to be a fiercely contested qualifying campaign.

Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin welcomed the draw and expressed confidence in Namibia’s ability to compete against the group’s established football nations.

“It’s a good draw, and we are drawn against good teams. Cameroon is a powerhouse in African football, but our statistics against them look good on paper. Comoros recently participated in the 2025 Afcon held in Morocco, and they have been doing well, with most of their players playing in Europe. Congo Brazzaville have athletic players, and we are looking forward to playing them in September,” said Benjamin.

The former national team captain stressed that Namibia’s success will depend heavily on preparation, discipline and maintaining belief throughout the qualifiers.

“For us, the focus will be on preparation, discipline and hard work. Every team at this stage deserves respect, but we also believe in our own quality and ability to compete. The players are motivated and eager to represent the country well. Our objective is to fight for qualification and make the nation proud,” he added.

Football analyst Isack Hamata believes the Brave Warriors still stand a realistic chance of securing qualification despite the challenge posed by the group.

“It is a very interesting draw. On the face of it, it looks difficult for Namibia to make it. However, to qualify, you do not need to beat Cameroon twice. You need to dominate the teams around you,” said Hamata.

He explained that Namibia must target at least four points against Comoros and maximum points against Congo-Brazzaville if they are to place themselves in a strong qualification position.

“We must aim for a minimum of four points against Comoros and a maximum of six points against Congo. If we secure 10 points from those two nations, any points snatched from Cameroon become a qualification bonus,” he said.

Hamata further highlighted Namibia’s defensive structure and counterattacking strength as key weapons heading into the qualifiers.

“Namibia’s greatest modern strength is defensive organisation and lightning-fast transitions. Against Cameroon and Comoros, we must stay compact, suffocate the midfield and use our pace on the wings to punish them on the counter.”

He added that although Namibia’s continued lack of a permanent home venue remains a disadvantage, qualification remains achievable if the team receives adequate support.

“This draw is highly favourable if approached with clinical professionalism. If the NFA provides the logistical backing and the team maintains its signature grit, the Brave Warriors will comfortably find themselves in East Africa come 2027. It won’t be easy considering our continued home-ground disadvantage, but it is doable,” he said. –lmupetami@nepc.com.na