Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin yesterday announced a 25-man squad for Namibia’s final Fifa World Cup qualifiers next month.
Namibia take on Liberia in Monrovia on 6 October, while their final match will be against the group leaders Tunisia in Tunis on 13 October.
Their World Cup hopes suffered a setback last month when they lost 2-1 to Malawi on 5 September, but they bounced back with a 3-0 victory against Sao Tome & Principe four days later to keep their hopes alive.
Namibia’s chances received a further boost when Fifa confirmed that Equatorial Guinea had been deducted six points for using an ineligible player, Emilio Nsue in their matches against Namibia and Liberia, who have now both been awarded 3-0 wins.
That has impacted the Group H standings with Namibia now second on the log on 15 points, with Tunisia well ahead on 22 points. Liberia are third on 11 points, followed by Malawi and Equatorial Guinea on 10 points each, while Sao Tome & Principe are bottom of the log on zero points.
Tunisia cannot be caught anymore and have already booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup which will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Namibia, however, still have an outside chance of qualifying although it will be a much tougher route.
The top teams of nine Confederation of African Football qualifying groups will qualify directly for the Fifa World Cup, while the four best-placed runners up will progress to another play-off competition for the world cup.
Namibia is currently ranked sixth amongst the runners up in the nine qualifying groups, with the battle for the top four spots extremely tight.
Gabon is the best placed runner-up with 18 points, followed by Madagascar and DR Congo who are both on 16 points, while Namibia is one of four teams on 15 points, who are just separated by goal difference.
Burkina Faso lead the way with a +12 goal aggregate, followed by Cameroon (+10), Namibia (+8) and Uganda (+2). Nigeria on 11 points and Tanzania on 10 are bottom of the runners-up group.
The four best group runners-up will participate in an African play-off tournament with the winning team advancing to an inter-confederation play-off tournament. Here they will play against other continental runners-up with the top two teams qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The Namibian squad shows a few changes from the one that played against Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe.
Veteran midfielder Awilo Stephanus who now plays for Hetten FC in Saudi Arabia, returns to the squad, as does another Saudi Arabia-based player, defender Kennedy Amutenya who plays for Jeddah FC.
The other recalled players are goalkeeper Jonas Mateus of FC Ongos and midfielder Tjipe Karuuombe who plays for Gonio FC in Georgia.
The players that have been dropped are goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua, and forwards Joslin Kamatuka and Isaskar Gurirab.
The Namibian squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Edward Maova (Golden Arrows, SA), Jonas Mateus (FC Ongos), Kamaijanda Ndisiro (Highbury FC, SA).
Defenders:
Ivan Kamberipa (Gaborone United, Botswana), Sergio Damaseb (Mighty Gunners), Charles Hambira (African Stars), Sisqo Haraseb (Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Botswana), Riaan !Hanamub (Amazulu, SA), David Haingwafa (Eeshoke Chula Chula), Ngero Katua (Highbury FC, SA), Kennedy Amutenya (Jeddah FC, Saudi Arabia), Kennedy Eib (Highbury FC, SA).
Midfielders:
Tjipe Karuombe (Gonio FC, Georgia), Moses Shidolo (Scottland FC, Zimbabwe), Paulus Amutenya (Unam), Alfeus Leevi (Blue Waters), Aprocius Petrus (Al Hilal, Sudan), Dynamo Fredericks (Jwaneng, Botswana), Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates, SA), Elias Hambongo (KK Palace).
Forwards:
Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA), David Ndeunyema (Blue Waters), Bethuel Muzeu (Black Leopards, SA), Erastus Kulula (unattached).
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