Namibia have departed for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier next week with five South African based players in their squad for their potentially decisive qualifier against Burundi.
Namibia need only one point from their last Group C match, which is being played in the Tanzanian capital Dar-es-Salaam, to qualify for the finals for a fourth time.
Namibia, who took four points off top seeds Cameroon in their last two qualifiers in March, lead the standings in the three-team group, where the top two go through to the finals in the Ivory Coast early next year.
Burundi must beat Namibia to stand any chance of qualifying and set up a last chance for them when they travel to Cameroon for the last group fixture in September.
Mamelodi Sundowns goal ace Peter Shalulile leads a contingent of three DStv Premiership players with flying fullback Rian Hanamub and the Chippa United striker Elmo Kambindu.
“There were no lacklustre training sessions. They’re doing their part. They’re fighting and arguing among each other, that means they want to achieve something,” coach Colin Benjamin told reporters this week about the mood in the Brave Warriors camp ahead of their journey.
“We’re going to go to Tanzania and they’re gonna give their best. These guys are going to fight, they’re going to bring the result that we need and go to the Africa Nations Cup, and make history as players of a certain generation that went to the Nations Cup twice. That’s what I’m looking at and that’s what I’m proud of,” said Benjamin, who was the assistant when Namibia last qualified for the Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2019.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ndisiro Kamaijanda (African Stars), Jonas Mateus (Orlando Pirates Windhoek)
Defenders: Kennedy Amutenya (Gaborone United, Botswana), Steven Damaseb (Blue Waters), Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka, South Africa), Rian Hanamub (AmaZulu, South Africa), Denzil Haoseb (Black Africa), Ivan Kamberipa (Masitaoka, Botswana), Ryan Nyambe (Wigan Athletic, England), Aprocius Petrus (Liria Prizren, Kosovo)
Midfielders: Paulus Amutenya (Unam), Dynamo Fredericks (African Stars), Ngero Kaanjuka (Unam), Reverend Matroos (Young Brazilians), Marcel Papama (Jwaneng Galaxy, Botswana), Devin Somseb (Life Fighters)
Forwards: Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Edmar Kamatuka, Joslin Kamatuka (both African Stars), Elmo Kambindu (Chippa United, South Africa), Bethuel Muzeu (Black Leopards, South Africa), Junior Petrus (Blue Waters), Wendell Rudath (Jwaneng Galaxy, Botswana), Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa).