Namibia national team head coach Ricardo Manetti will have to do without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Edward Maova when they take on Zambia in a penultimate 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday.
According to information from the Namibia Football Association (NFA), the South African based keeper picked up a concussion during their weekend match against Ubuntu Cape Town FC which ended in a one-all stalemate.
The Brave Warriors will now bank their hopes on Virgil Vries, Maximillian Mbaeva and Loydt Kazapua to fight for the coveted spot between the posts.
Namibia are currently training in Pretoria where they have been joined by the rest of the foreign-legion, minus Sadney Urikhob, Benson Shilongo and Itamunua Keimuine who are expected to join the camp later today.
Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti says the teams’ objective remains to get a result in Zambia on Saturday as his team remains in charge.
“We are in charge of our destiny and we have to do it ourselves. We cannot rely on the results elsewhere. Saturday is our defining moment and Egypt 2019 is around the corner,” said Mannetti.
The team is expected to depart to Lusaka on Wednesday to continue their preparations for the crunch match.
Namibia can qualify for the 2019 AFCON finals: if they avoid defeat to Zambia; if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique lose to Guinea Bissau; if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique draw against Bissau (Namibia have a better head to head against Mozambique).
Guinea Bissau and Namibia are top of Group K with eight points each with Mozambique in third place with seven points. Zambia, with four points, are out of the race to Egypt 2019. The group winner and the runner-up will qualify for the 32nd edition of the Total African Cup of Nations.
Brave Warriors in training : Virgil Vries, Maximillian Mbaeva, Loydt Kazapua, Petrus Shitembi, Tiberius Lombard, Ananias Gebhardt, Willy Stephanus, Denzil Haoseb, Peter Shalulile , Marcel Papama, Riaan Hanamub, Dynamo Fredericks, Emilio Martin, Ronald Ketjijere, Benson Shilongo, Ivan Kamberipa, Edmund Kambanda, Muna Katupose, Sadney Urikhob, Joslin Kamatuka, Vitapi Ngaruka, Charles Hambira, Treasure Kauapirura, Itamunua Keimuine ,Immanuel Heita ,Absalom Iimbondi and Deon Hotto.
