Namibia u17 out to emulate Class of 2016

NAMIBIA’s national under 17 football team left for Mauritius over the weekend for the Cosafa u17 Championships which start on Thursday, aiming to follow in the footsteps of their 2016 compatriots who won the regional title for the first time.

With this year’s event also serving as a qualifier for the African u17 Championships as well as the Fifa u17 World Cup which both take place next year, a lot will be at stake as 12 southern African countries battle it out for the top spot.

Two years ago Namibia won the title for the first time when they beat South Africa on penalties in the final, and their hopes for this year’s tournament were boosted when they received a favourable draw last month.

Namibia were drawn in Group A along with Seychelles, Mauritius and Botswana, ensuring that they miss the regional heavyweights before the knockout stages.

The defending champions Zambia were drawn in Group B along with South Africa, Lesotho and Mozambique, while Group C consists of Zimbabwe, Angola, Swaziland and Malawi.

The 2016 tournament was not a qualifier for the Africa u17 Championships, but since then the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has changed the qualification criteria for the tournament, making the regional competitions, if they are held, the entry for the teams. It means that there can only be one side from the Cosafa region present, and that team will become known in Mauritius.

Eight sides will then contest the African finals in Tanzania from 12 to 26 May next year, split into two groups of four sides.The field also comprises of hosts Tanzania as well as another side from East Africa, one team from North Africa, one from Central Africa and three slots allocated to West Africa.

The top two sides in each pool will qualify for the semifinals and all will take their place at the World Cup in Peru, South America that will be staged from 5 to 27 October, 2019.

Despite missing the big guns in the draw, Namibia will still face some tough opponents during the group stages.

They open their campaign against Seychelles on Thursday, before taking on the hosts Mauritius on Saturday, and Botswana next Tuesday.

Especially Mauritius have improved a lot in recent years and last year made it all the way to the final before losing 3-0 to Zambia. That was not a true reflection of the game, though, as they held Zambia for most of the match, before conceding some late goals.

On their way to the final, they beat Zimbabwe 1-0 and Botswana 2-1 during the group stages as well as South Africa 2-0 in the knockout stages.

Namibia will, however, draw hope from their last meeting against Mauritius in 2016 when Namibia won 3-1.

Botswana, too, cannot be underestimated as they have an impressive record on the continental stage.

They have already reached the Africa u17 Championships on three occasions, most recently in 2013, but they are still looking for a first win on the continental stage.

Last year they were knocked out in the group stages at the Cosafa u17 Cup, after losing 2-0 to Malawi and 2-1 to Mauritius and beating Zimbabwe 2-1 to finish third in their group.

The Namibian squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers:

Utupuka Kavita and Ikuaterua Mungendje.

Defenders:

Tjipenandjambi Kaputjaza, Promise Gurirab, Vincenco Ganeb, Bradley Haixab, Thomas Bantam, Aidyn Eiseb and Giagino Geiriseb.

Midfielders:

Steven Damaseb, Esegiel Katjirijova, Prins Tjiueza, Tyrin George, Ndjiharine Katjivena, Penouua Kandjii and Edmar Kamatuka.

Strikers:

Jahrule Awaseb, Gonzales Tsubeb, Friedman Goraseb and Djorkaef Stein.

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