… back at happy hunting ground

WINDHOEK – It’s just another football match of convenience when Namibia’s Brave Warriors confront Kenya’s Harambee Stars in their own backyard at the Moi International Sports Stadium in Nairobi for the final match of the 2014 FIFA Africa World Cup preliminary, on Sunday.

With both teams out of contention for a place in the last ten FIFA Africa World Cup qualifiers, pride will be at stake and the Namibian Warriors are determined to spoil the Kenyans’ party for the umpteenth time as they return to their happy hunting ground – venue of the Warriors’ historic 1-0 win against the hosts in a decisive Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier in 1997.

Joint coaches Ricardo Mannetti and Ronnie Kanalelo were part and parcel of that team and although they will be in different capacities this time around – the pair would want to savour another victory over the unpredictable Harambee Stars, when they wrap up proceedings in Group F.

Victory for the Warriors, accompanied by a likely defeat for Malawi against group leaders Nigeria will propel Namibia to finish in a commendable second place in the four-nation group and Mannetti and his soldiers are very much aware of the prospects against the beanpole Kenyans.

However, Namibia will go into the tie with a heavily depleted squad following the last minute withdrawal of Captain Fantastic Dacosta Angula, who limped off a training session earlier this week suffering a niggling injury in the wake of several other withdrawals and the non-availability of experienced playing personnel through an assortment of injuries and club commitments.

Much travelled veteran shot stopper Ephraim Tjihonge, who recently joined Namibian champions Black Africa, is likely to get the nod ahead of the butterfingered Virgil Vries for the number one spot between the sticks, a position currently proving to be the Warriors’ Achilles heel.

The Warriors will be well advised not to underestimate the hosts who boast quite a number of high profile players in their armoury, including the dangerous and highly rated Victor Wanyama, who plies his trade with Southampton in the Barclays English Premier League.

Namibia beat Kenya by a solitary goal in an ill-tempered match at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium via Henrico Botes’ headed goal in the first leg. Tomorrow sees African champions Nigeria welcoming Malawi in Calabar in the final group F match.

 

Team	M	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Nigeria	5	2	3	0	5	3	9
Malawi	5	1	4	0	4	3	7
Namibia	5	1	2	2	2	3	5
Kenya	5	0	3	2	3	5	3