Staff Reporter
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 9 – Namibia is gearing up for an exciting showdown at Orlando Stadium this Saturday as they face their neighbouring rivals, Bafana Bafana, in an international friendly match.
Both teams have crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled for November, but this friendly clash promises to be an exciting encounter for football enthusiasts.
Bafana Bafana has already secured their spot in the Africa Cup of Nations finals, while Namibia also has a significant chance of making it to the Ivory Coast next year. However, their qualification prospects are somewhat reliant on the outcome of a qualifier between Cameroon and Burundi on Tuesday.
Namibia’s last visit to Soweto resulted in a remarkable AFCON qualifying victory over Cameroon, with Collin Benjamin’s side triumphing 2-1 at Dobsonville Stadium in March. Notably, Namibia did not have a home ground that met CAF requirements at the time.
Despite the absence of Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile, who was among the goalscorers in that historic victory, Namibia remains confident that they can pose a formidable challenge to South Africa.
Collin Benjamin expressed his excitement about the upcoming match, stating, “There’s always something in the air when it’s Namibia versus South Africa. We want to upset the big brother. We’re delighted that we’re going to have a game of this magnitude, with South Africa bringing their strongest possible squad.”
Leading Namibia’s attack in Shalulile’s absence will be Orlando Pirates’ Deon Hotto, fresh from scoring his first goal of the season for the Buccaneers. Hotto’s recent form and familiarity with Orlando Stadium, where he plays for Orlando Pirates, provide additional motivation for him to perform exceptionally against Bafana Bafana, possibly facing some of his club teammates.
However, Bafana Bafana boasts a formidable attacking lineup, with players like Lyle Foster, Lebo Mothiba, and Mihlali Mayambela in top form. Their recent record includes five wins and two draws since September 2022, excluding the COSAFA Cup, with impressive AFCON qualifying victories over Liberia and Morocco.
Despite the importance of upcoming matches, Bafana Bafana will aim to maintain their winning momentum against Namibia.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 CAT (13:00 GMT) at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, promising an enthralling encounter between these neighbouring football rivals.
