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NAMIBIA's Under-17 National Football Team left for Mauritius this weekend for the Cosafa U17 Championships, which kick off on Thursday, in the wake of their 2016 compatriots who won the regional title for the first time. The event of the year also serves as a qualifier for the U17 African Championships as well as the FIFA U17 World Cup to be held next year, many things will be at stake while 12 countries of South Africa face for first place.
A few years ago, Namibia won the title for the first time beating South Africa on penalties in the final, and its hopes for this year's tournament were increased when they received a favorable draw last month.
Namibia was drawn into Group A with Seychelles, Mauritius and Botswana, ensuring they missed the regional heavyweights before the round of 16.
The defending champions, Zambia, were selected in Group B with South Africa, Lesotho and Mozambique, while Group C includes Zimbabwe, Angola, Swaziland and Malawi.
The 2016 tournament was not a qualification for the U17 African Championships, but since then, the African Football Confederation (CAF) has changed the qualifying criteria for the tournament, making regional competitions if they take place, the entry for the teams. This means that there can only be one side of the Cosafa region, and this team will become known in Mauritius.
Eight games will then play the African finals in Tanzania from May 12 to 26, divided into two groups of four sides. The field also includes hosts in Tanzania as well as another East African team, a team from North Africa, a Central African team and three allocated slots. in West Africa.
The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the semi-finals and all will take their place at the World Cup in Peru, South America, which will take place from October 5 to 27, 2019.
draw, Namibia will still face tough opponents in the group stages.
They open their campaign against Seychelles on Thursday, before facing Mauritius on Saturday, and Botswana next Tuesday.
Especially Mauritius has improved a lot in recent years and last year, it qualified for the final before losing 3-0 against Zambia. However, this was not a true reflection of the match as they held Zambia for most of the match before conceding a few late goals.
En route to the final, they beat Zimbabwe 1-0 and Botswana 2-1 in the group stages as well as South Africa 2-0 in the knockout stages.
Namibia, however, will hope for its last game against Mauritius in 2016, when Namibia won 3-1.
Botswana can not be underestimated either because it has an impressive record on the continental scene.
They have already reached the U17 African Championships three times, most recently in 2013, but they are still looking for a first win on the continental stage.
Last year, they were eliminated in the group stage of the Cosafa U17 Cup, after losing 2-0 to Malawi and 2-1 in Mauritius and defeating Zimbabwe 2-1 to finish third in their group.
The Namibian team 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, Tjiueza Prins, Tyrin George, Ndjiharine Katjivena, Penouua Kandjii and Edmar Kamatuka.
Strikers:
Jahrule Awaseb, Gonzales Tsubeb, Friedman Goraseb and Djorkaef Stein.
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