The Brave Warriors are fired up and ready to face the Flames of Malawi in a crucial Group H showdown today at the Bingu National Stadium, with the kick-off set for 18h00.
Head coach Collin Benjamin has called upon a 24-player squad, which includes Namibia’s star striker Peter Shalulile, to battle for victory.
Joining him are Orlando Pirates’ winger Deon Hotto and the ever-dangerous Elmo Kambindu of AmaZulu, all of whom will be instrumental in extinguishing the Flames.
The squad has been trimmed from an initial 30-man list, but Benjamin’s choices reflect a perfect balance of experience and youthful energy, with some key returns to add firepower.
“We’re going all the way in these upcoming fixtures. The squad we’ve assembled shows our determination to produce solid results. We’ve blended experience with youthful talent. The inclusion of a few key players returning to the fold adds extra depth. It’s crucial that we secure a positive outcome, which will bring us one step closer to our ultimate goal,” Benjamin said
Hotto said they are looking forward to the match and that the spirit is high in camp.
He added that the return of the likes of Dynamo Fredericks after an injury means a lot to the team, as he has experience.
The Warriors will face a tough challenge, as Malawi comes into the match with their own strong squad, led by in-form striker Gabadinho Mhango from Marumo Gallants.
Despite the fierce competition, Namibia holds the historical upper hand, having faced Malawi 15 times across all competitions.
The Warriors won seven of those encounters, while the Flames have won four, with four matches ending in draws.
Callisto Pasuwa’s Flames squad boasts a solid core of local-based players.
However, they have called upon 11 foreign-based players from seven different countries. This includes Charles Petro from Romania and Chawanangwa Kaonga from Zanaco, Zambia.
After today’s match, the Namibians will head to Polokwane, South Africa, where they will host Equatorial Guinea on 24 March.
With a current standing of second place in Group H, Namibia has earned eight points from four games, securing two wins, two draws, six goals and conceding only one. Tunisia leads the group with 10 points, just two ahead of the Warriors.
Liberia follows in third with seven points, while Malawi sits fourth with six points. Equatorial Guinea is fifth with three points.
Sao Tome and Principe round out the group in last place with zero points.
The team that finishes on top of the group standings will automatically qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by Mexico, Canada and the United States from 11 June to 19 July.
-lmupetami@nepc.com.na