COSAFA Under-17 Championship winners, Namibia’s Baby Warriors have jetted out to Congo-Brazzaville for their Confederation of African Football (CAF) 2017 U-17 African Cup of Nations Qualifiers second-round second leg at the Alphonse Massemba-Debat Stadium in Brazzaville on Sunday afternoon.
The Namibians will look to avenge a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Congo two weeks ago in Windhoek and according to coach Timo Tjongarero the team’s aim is to do their very best and concurrently take in the rigors of African football.
“The boys have done well thus far. We go to Congo aiming to do well in terms of results. We need to win 2-1 to force penalties and 2-0 to advance to the next round. It is not an easy task playing away in Africa but the boys are in the right frame of mind; play their best and leave it all on the field,” Tjongarero says.
He adds that the overall objective of the team is exposure for the boys which are part of their long term goal of development.
“The boys have really grown in leaps and bounds in terms of adaptation and this can only help them going forward. Some of these boys can be included in the COSASA Games team and can be very influential there and this is what we need, exposure for the boys,” Tjongarero says.
Namibia travels without star striker Godwin Awaseb who saw red in the first leg match and the winner of the fixture will advance to the third and final round for Madagascar’s 2017 CAF U/17 AFCON finals.
The Baby Warriors to Congo-Brazzaville: Philipus Josef (Otjozondjupa), Johannes Hollombach (Hardap), Lubeni Haukongo (Erongo), Immanuel Isaya (Kavango), Dawid Morgan JR (Khomas), Helmuth Namaseb (Erongo), Stanley Ndjavera (Khomas), Mbakondja Tjahikika (Erongo), Vaino Uugwanga (Khomas), Pitsi Amseb (Khomas), Alex Kaongelwa (Erongo), Mathias Shipanga (Khomas), Giovani Kaninab ( Kunene), Stevano Dundee (Khomas), Denzil Narib (Khomas), Junior Petrus (Oshana) ,Megameno Kapuku (Oshana), Godwin Eiseb (Khomas).