Warriors to face Egypt, Senegal

THE Brave Warriors will test themselves against two of Africa’s football powerhouses in the form of Egypt and Senegal days before the start of the African Nations Cup in Ghana early next year.

The matches will mainly serve as warm-ups ahead of their clashes in the continental competition, which officially kicks off on January 20, a day on which hosts Ghana will take on Guinea at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra. Before the two friendly encounters in January, Namibia will first take on another major force, Tunisia, on November 17 in an away match.The Acting Secretary General of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Barry Rukoro, confirmed to The Namibian Sport the dates for the Egypt (January 9) and Senegal (January 12) matches yesterday.He said Namibia would host Egypt at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek, while they would play Senegal in Dakar.The side, which is headed by Zambian-born coach Ben Bamfuchile, who ensured their qualification to the competition, has already played against Morocco (2-0) and Saudi Arabia (1-0).They lost to both countries with respectable score-margins and their preparations are on track, according to Rukoro.STATISTICS Before their match in Morocco earlier last month, Namibia had only played that country twice – in June 2000 in Windhoek for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and again in April 2001 for the qualifiers in the same competition.They drew 0-all in their first qualifier against Morocco, before losing 3-0 in the second encounter.Namibia had played Saudi Arabia before in a 1998 friendly match, which they lost 2-1, before their recent encounter last Friday.Namibia have played a record five times against Egypt and lost four times, with a single draw.The Egyptians recorded their biggest winning margin (8-2) in their own backyard during a 2002 World Cup qualifier which was played on July 13 2001.The draw was 1-all in Windhoek on February 1, also during the World Cup qualifiers, while the other two losses were a 5-0 in 2001 (also World Cup qualifiers) and a 1-0 loss in 1999 during a friendly match.Namibia also lost 3-2 to Egypt in 1997 during the second round of the 1998 World Cup qualifiers played on April 26.The Warriors have only met Senegal once and that also during the final round of the 2002 World Cup qualifier in Dakar when they went down 4-0 on March 11 2001.The Warriors will meet Tunisia for the third time after their first encounter was in April 1997 during the 1998 World Cup qualifier in which they lost 2-1 in Windhoek.Their second meeting was a 4-0 loss to the North Africans in Tunis in the same competition.PREPARATIONS Despite losing four times previously to Egypt, the Namibians will possibly find it easier to score goals in front of their home crowd.The Namibian public has been supportive of the team since their entry into the Nations Cup for the second time in ten years, while their preparations are in an advanced stage.”The team arrives today from Saudi Arabia and they will be in camp for the Tunisia match, which they will unfortunately play away from home again.Despite that, the association currently believes in the team as they have shown commitment and are very optimistic about their future success,” Rukoro said.He said the team would be kept busy until they leave for Ghana next year to ensure that they compete favourably against some of these big nations.The Namibian team now have more professional players in their campaign for the Nations Cup than during their debut in Burkina Faso in 1998.At that time, Mohammed Ouseb, Eliphas Shivute, Robert Nauseb, Ricardo Mannetti and Ronnie Kanalelo were the only foreign-based players.Now, there are about 11 professionals in the side, which will serve as a major boost to the country which has been drawn into a relatively tough group at the competition.Namibia open their Nations Cup campaign against Morocco on January 21 in Ohene Djan in Accra, while their next encounter will be at the same venue with hosts Ghana on January 24.Their last match will be against Guinea on January 28 at Sekondi Stadium.Before the two friendly encounters in January, Namibia will first take on another major force, Tunisia, on November 17 in an away match.The Acting Secretary General of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Barry Rukoro, confirmed to The Namibian Sport the dates for the Egypt (January 9) and Senegal (January 12) matches yesterday.He said Namibia would host Egypt at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek, while they would play Senegal in Dakar.The side, which is headed by Zambian-born coach Ben Bamfuchile, who ensured their qualification to the competition, has already played against Morocco (2-0) and Saudi Arabia (1-0).They lost to both countries with respectable score-margins and their preparations are on track, according to Rukoro.STATISTICS Before their match in Morocco earlier last month, Namibia had only played that country twice – in June 2000 in Windhoek for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and again in April 2001 for the qualifiers in the same competition.They drew 0-all in their first qualifier against Morocco, before losing 3-0 in the second encounter.Namibia had played Saudi Arabia before in a 1998 friendly match, which they lost 2-1, before their recent encounter last Friday.Namibia have played a record five times against Egypt and lost four times, with a single draw.The Egyptians recorded their biggest winning margin (8-2) in their own backyard during a 2002 World Cup qualifier which was played on July 13 2001.The draw was 1-all in Windhoek on February 1, also during the World Cup qualifiers, while the other two losses were a 5-0 in 2001 (also World Cup qualifiers) and a 1-0 loss in 1999 during a friendly match.Namibia also lost 3-2 to Egypt in 1997 during the second round of the 1998 World Cup qualifiers played on April 26.The Warriors have only met Senegal once and that also during the final round of the 2002 World Cup qualifier in Dakar when they went down 4-0 on March 11 2001.The Warriors will meet Tunisia for the third time after their first encounter was in April 1997 during the 1998 World Cup qualifier in which they lost 2-1 in Windhoek.Their second meeting was a 4-0 loss to the North Africans in Tunis in the same competition. PREPARATIONS Despite losing four times previously to Egypt, the Namibians will possibly find it easier to score goals in front of their home crowd.The Namibian public has been supportive of the team since their entry into the Nations Cup for the second time in ten years, while their preparations are in an advanced stage.”The team arrives today from Saudi Arabia and they will be in camp for the Tunisia match, which they will unfortunately play away from home again.Despite that, the association currently believes in the team as they have shown commitment and are very optimistic about their future success,” Rukoro said.He said the team would be kept busy until they leave for Ghana next year to ensure that they compete favourably against some of these big nations.The Namibian team now have more professional players in their campaign for the Nations Cup than during their debut in Burkina Faso in 1998.At that time, Mohammed Ouseb, Eliphas Shivute, Robert Nauseb, Ricardo Mannetti and Ronnie Kanalelo were the only foreign-based players.Now, there are about 11 professionals in the side, which will serve as a major boost to the country which has been drawn into a relatively tough group at the competition.Namibia open their Nations Cup campaign against Morocco on January 21 in Ohene Djan in Accra, while their next encounter will be at the same venue with hosts Ghana on January 24.Their last match will be against Guinea on January 28 at Sekondi Stadium.