By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
The Namibian national team will tonight put their final touches to their preparations when they take on Jomo Cosmos FC in an international friendly in Johannesburg.
The Brave Warriors, who are on the way to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the last and crucial qualifier game for the 2008 African Nations Cup against Ethiopia, left the country on Monday.
Despite having performed reasonably well in the qualifying games, boasting with two victories, one draw and a single defeat, the Warriors will need a big favour from Libya to stand any chance of qualifying.
The Warriors will be hoping that Libya can beat Congo at home while they can overcome Ethiopia, otherwise mathematically they can no longer qualify for the African soccer showpiece.
The surprise 1-0 victories by Namibia and Ethiopia in June provided for the nail-biting final day in Group Ten of the 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
An early goal from Hamburg player Collin Benjamin at home ensured Namibia edged past Libya 1-0. Libya were unlucky not to find an equalizer and hit the Namibian woodwork three times including in the dying seconds of the match.
Ethiopia on the other hand beat table-toppers DR Congo in Addis Ababa.
Saladine Said settled the contest with the only goal of the game after 30 minutes. He profited from a blunder by reserve keeper Alain Kizamba, who had come into the game after just seven minutes when Robert Kidiabe was injured, to settle the game.
Congolese preparations for the game were far from perfect with Belgian coach Henri Depireux complaining he had not been paid his whole salary by the federation.
Compounding the Leopards’ problems was the fact that national captain Lomana LuaLua missed the game because of travel complications.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has confirmed the postponement of two African Nations Cup qualifiers because of the weekend’s general election in Sierra Leone.
CAF said it was postponing until Oct. 14 the decisive games in Group Nine after being told security could not be guaranteed for the match between Sierra Leone and Benin in Freetown.
CAF had already ordered the game be played at the same time as the other decisive encounter in the group between joint leaders Togo and Mali in Lom???_?_’???_?’???_?