Namibia looking for fast start in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
COSAFA side Namibia are seeking to get their 2022 FIFA World Cup Group H qualification campaign off to a winning start when they host Congo in neutral Johannesburg on Thursday, having gathered a formidable squad under coach Bobby Samaria.
The match is being played at the Orlando Stadium with Namibia’s regular venue in Windhoek falling short of Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards, but that will not perturb the players or their mission for three points.
“Most of our professional players are based here [in South Africa], so playing at Orlando Stadium will be like a second home for them,” Samaria says. “Also, now with COVID-19, spectators won’t be allowed, and teams won’t have the 12th man advantage that the spectators bring.
“It’s very important to get off on a winning note, but it goes without saying that it’s a very tough group if you look at the [world] rankings. But if we have the belief, we can get good results.”
The Brave Warriors will also face mighty Senegal and Togo in their pool, and after Thursday’s clash with Congo will charter a flight to Lome for their second qualifier on Sunday.
Key winger Deon Hotto is one of those players based in South Africa and will in fact play at the home stadium of his club, Orlando Pirates, providing him with familiar surroundings.
“We are very focus on this match. We need to do this for us and the fans back home because the World Cup is the ultimate,” Hotto said. “Most of these players played at the last Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, and the dream now is the World Cup. It is possible and it starts now.
“It’s our home away from home, but for me it will be my home at home and that is very special,” the winger added. “I’m used to the pitch and some [other Namibia] players in the team too have played here before, and on the day that should count for something. We take one game at the time and it’s all about Congo and what we can get from it.”
Congo, who like their opponents have never played at the global showpiece and also missed out on 2021 AFCON qualification, were last in action in June, claiming a 1-0 win over Niger in a friendly at the Emirhan Sports Complex in Side, Turkey.
The Red Devils’ coach, Paul Put, has left out key men Fernand Mayembo and Thievy Bifouma from his squad, and is looking to inject some new blood with the likes of Nolan Mbemba, Beni Makouana, Vladis Emerson Illoy and Hardy Binguila.
In head-to-head stats, Namibia and Congo have met in four previous matches across all competitions and friendlies dating back to their first clash in 1998. The Red Devils have claimed three wins compared to one for the Brave Warriors.
The teams’ most recent meeting was in an AFCON qualifier in May 2014, with Congo recording an emphatic 3-0 home win at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat in Brazzaville.
Namibia squad:
Goalkeepers: Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Lodyt Kazapua and Virgil Vries
Defenders: Riaan Hanamub, Ivan Kamberipa, Gebhardt Ananias, Larry Horaeb, Teberius Lombardt, Approcius Petrus, Denzil Haoseb, Charles Hambira
Midfielders: Dynamo Fredericks, Alfeus Handura, Wangu Gome, Deon Hotto, Absalom Iimbondi, Wesley Katjiteo, Marcel Papama, Prins Tjiueza, Willy Stephanus
Forwards: Elmo Kambindu, Issaskar Gurirab, Peter Shalulile, Joslin Kamatuka, Benson Shilongo
