Brave Warriors coach Bernard Kaanjuka reckons it will not be difficult for Namibia to get the goals they need to progress in the 2013 CAF AFCON race when they host Liberia on Saturday.
Speaking at the Warriors training session this week the coach said his charges were ready to inflict the ‘20th consecutive away’ defeat on Liberia who are bad travellers.
“They have played 19 games away thus far since 2002 and have lost all 19 during that period up to now and we are ready to make it 20,” said Kaanjuka.
Namibia will have to score at least two goals to progress to the next round after Liberia won the first round encounter 1-0 in Monrovia on February 29.
Kaanjuka however said it won’t be difficult for his side to get the goals as Liberia will be without three of their best players.
“They have suspended three players from the team due to disciplinary issues and that includes their striker Dioh Williams who scored the winner against us in Monrovia, so you never know what that might do to their team spirit and determination to come and win here,” he said.
Top players Anthony Laffour, Francis Grandpa Doe and Dioh Williams are not part of the travelling contingent of Liberia which will include high ranking government officials. Liberia arrives in Namibia on Friday morning.
Over the past two weeks, Liberia lost 3-1 away to Senegal and drew 0-0 at home to Angola in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and according to Kaanjuka that could play in Namibia’s favour.
“Our players are highly motivated at the moment and we will look for an early goal. We need three goals and that is our intention going into the game,” he said.
He also said Namibia were rather unfortunate in Monrovia during that 1-0 defeat as they had a goal disallowed and a penalty appeal turned down, but are now determined to put the record straight on Saturday.
Kaanjuka said victory on Saturday and qualification to the group stages of the 2013 AFCON qualifiers will mean more games for the Warriors in the future and that was his plan.
“My goal is to ensure that the team play more games together and we can ensure that if we can get into the group stages of AFCON and if we are still in the World Cup qualifiers as well. World Cup qualification is not a priority right now but it will be a bonus,” he said.
The match will start at 18h00 on Saturday at Windhoek's Independence Stadium. Tickets can be bought at Computicket at Shoprite and Checkers outlets throughout Namibia.