Mannetti names familiar squad for Guinea-Bissau clash

WINDHOEK, 07 NOV  – Brave Warriors head coach Ricardo Mannetti has announced a list of 26 players who will prepare for the make or break tie between Namibia and Guinea Bissau scheduled for the Sam Nujoma Stadium on 17 November 2018.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, Mannetti announced a largely unchanged team with Chris Katjiukua making a return to the team in the place of Denzil Haoseb.
Haoseb will be serving a one-match suspension following his red card against Mozambique last month.
Also making a return to the team is Immanuel Heita, who has been absent due to injury.
Mannetti explained that he has called up the tried and tested players because it is an important match for the Brave Warriors, who are aiming to qualify for the 2009 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) scheduled to take place in Cameroon.
“This game will definitely be the most important one given the situation that should the countries end on the same points with Guinea-Bissau, the Confederation of African Football will use head-to-head in determining who qualifies for the tournament,” he explained.
The coach said he does not expect complacency following the team’s performances in the last two matches against Mozambique.
He said any player who becomes complacent must look at the bench and see how much quality the squad has.
“It would be a very immature and childish act by any player to be complacent. We as the technical team are not becoming complacent. Every player wants to be part of history. People become complacent when a player feels they are irreplaceable and over the years we have proven that no one is irreplaceable,” Mannetti explained, emphasising the importance of depth in the team and how it helps with competition amongst the players.
The team has already started training at the Namibia Football Association’s Technical Centre and Mannetti said the fitness and conditioning coach, Charl Botha, was impressed with the level of fitness of the players.
The coach says they have enough intelligence on their opponents and will have a plan to counter them.
Namibia and Guinea-Bissau are currently tied on seven points each on top of Group K, with Mozambique and Zambia anchoring the group on four points each.
The players who were called up are as follows:

Goalkeepers
Maximillian Mbaeva, Virgil Vries and Loydt Kazapua

Defenders
Chris Katjiukua, Larry Horaeb, Teberius Lombard, Emilio Martin, Vitapi Ngaruka, Riaani Hanamub, Ananias Gebhardt and Immanuel Heita.

Midfielders
Dynamo Fredricks, Petrus Shitembi, Ronald Ketjijere, Wangu Batista Gome, Absalom Iimbondi, Deon Hotto, Willy Stephanus and Marcel Papama.

Strikers
Hendrik Somaeb, Muna Katupose, Sadney Urikhob, Benson Shilongo, Itamunua Keimuine and Peter Shalulile.
(NAMPA)