Young Warriors eye Mauritania friendly

By Michael Uugwanga

THE country’s men U-20 national team that is currently in Mauritania ahead of their debut in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-20 tournament that is set to run from February 14 to March 4, is seeking a friendly match against Mauritania men senior side.

This was said by coach James Britz in an interview with Confidente Sport, as the team landed in Mauritania on Monday as one of the two representative nations from the southern region alongside Mozambique that will be competing for top honours at Africa’s top junior football tournament.

Namibia qualified to the U-20 AFCON tournament after reaching the final of the 2020 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) U-20 tournament that was held in South Africa, losing 1-0 to Mozambique in the final.

Namibia is in group B of the tourney and will face Tunisia, Burkina Faso and Central Africa Republic.

Namibia’s first match will be against Central Africa Republic on 15 February, before they take on Tunisia and then Burkina Faso.

In order for Namibia to have a good run at the tournament the players will need to be in good shape both physically and mentally.

The entire 29 men squad has not played domestic football for nearly two years due to infighting within the Namibian football fraternity that resulted in the absence of both top and lower divisions.

Despite the absence of a domestic league, Namibia miraculously managed to book a golden ticket to the finals and will now be looking to make history again.

“We were well received by the people of Mauritania at the airport. We had our first light training session on Monday at a very beautiful stadium.

The boys’ spirits are high and they are looking forward to the tournament. The boys are here to make their country proud.

“We are looking at playing a friendly match against Mauritania men senior team on 11 February and also another friendly game before the main event.

We want to give the boys game time so that we prepare them well for the tournament and also to try and identified new combinations,” said Britz this week.

Below is the

29-man squad:

Tully Nashixua

Immanuel Hamunyela

Denzil Narib

Pitsi Ameb

Romeo Amon

Xavier Mcclune

Edmar Kamatuka

Carl Tjipe Karuuombe

Rio Goagoseb

Ronin Brendt

Amazing Kandjii (Khomas)

Steven Damaseb

Prins Tjiueza

Promise Gurirab

Herman Uwuseb

Tuhafeni Ananias

Gerson Paulus(Erongo)

Ngazikue Kandetu

Ruhuka Ngatangwe(Omaheke),

Mwanyekange Matheus (Omusati),

Josef Erastus(Oshana)

Juninho Jantze (Hardap),

Eubrahim Apollus (Kharas)

Giovani Kaninab

Gonzales Tsuseb (Kunene)

Ngero Katua

Garere Damaseb

Jovane Narib

Phillip Joseph (Otjozondjupa)