James Britz, head coach of Namibia’s U/20 men’s football team, is confident that his team will turn things around today when they take on Zambia in a decisive group stage match of the U/20 Cosafa qualifiers.

The match is scheduled to start at 12h00. The competition, which is being held in Matola, Mozambique, sees teams from across the SADC region fighting for a place at next year’s U/20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Namibia’s first group match ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat to group leaders Angola on Sunday. The victory gave Angola six points, following back-to-back wins against Zambia and Namibia, respectively. With their fate in the balance, the Young Warriors face a must-win situation against Zambia today, needing maximum points to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Ahead of the match, Britz remained optimistic, confident that today’s result will be different. He said a few key factors contributed to their opening loss to Angola, but believes his team is ready to bounce back.

“I see the scoreline from the Angola match as a positive. If you look at when they scored, it was towards the end of the game. I believe in the boys, and I’m confident that tactically, we will perform much better in this next match,” he said.

Reflecting on the Angola game, Britz attributed the result to the team’s inexperience, despite creating several scoring opportunities. “We had one or two clear chances in front of goal, but couldn’t convert. We need to refine our strategies, and make sure we come out on top in the next game,” he added.

Meanwhile, respected coach Woody Jacobs voiced his support for Britz and his team, expressing confidence that Namibia can collect all three points against a strong Zambian side.

“I think they can qualify as runners-up. I watched their game on Sunday, and I see a solid squad with talented players. 

Zambia is a quality side, and although they lost to Angola, they’re still in the mix,” he remarked.

Namibia last qualified for Afcon in 2021, but exited at the group stage.

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na