Brave Warriors midfielder Lazarus Kaimbi feels Namibia should take advantage of the slow Liberian defence to win and advance to the group stages of the 2013 AFCON qualifiers.
The Namibian team will host Liberia in Windhoek on Saturday for the return leg of their CAF AFCON qualifiers, with Liberia leading 1-0 from the first leg played in Monrovia.
Namibia will have to win by two clear goals for them to proceed to the next stage of the qualifiers for the bi-annual continental championships taking place in South Africa in 2013.
Lazarus Kaimbi, who lately has had the time of his life in the Warriors’ shirt, believes his side will have to use their speed and skill to exploit the opposition and score more goals against Liberia on Saturday.
“We have the speed and I believe from the first leg we saw that their defense is very slow and we have to make the most of that at home. It is a massive game for us and we have to win it. Surely, we can run them over,” Kaimbi said.
Following their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier 1-0 victory over Kenya last weekend, Kaimbi says the team is aware of the mounting pressure on them and they are handling it well at the moment.
“Last week we were rushing with our play against Kenya because we wanted an early goal, but after we turned to our normal game, we finally got the goal.
“It was very important for us to win that game because of all the hype surrounding our 1-0 defeat in Nigeria a week earlier.
“We proved to people that we are a good team and we really appreciate the support we are getting.
“Now we have so much pressure to win – and win again – and we believe in ourselves. The work has to be done and we will do it,” Kaimbi said.
Kaimbi is still struggling with an ankle injury and is unlikely to play against Liberia.
Liberian squad
Meanwhile, Liberian coach Kaytu Smith has said he will use a 4-4-2 formation against Namibia.
According to www.liberiansoccer.com Smith will start with goalkeeper Nathaniel Sherman between in goal for Liberia.
Smith said he will start will Solomon Grimes at right back while Teah Dennis and Omega Roberts will be play in the central defence and captain George Gebro will play at left back.
The midfielders that will start the match are Theo Weeks, Alseny Keita, Zah Krangar and defender turned midfielder Jimmy Dixon.
Coach Smith said Jimmy Dixon will play right in front of the two central defenders.
Patrick Wleh and Perry Kollie will lead the Lone Star striking force.
The substitutes are Sekou Jabateh, Solomon Wesseh, Marcus Macauley, Martin Kandu, Abraham Brashall, Herron Berrian, Mulbah Urey and James Gallay. Coach Smith has named veteran defender George Gebro as the new Lone Star captain to replace expelled Anthony Laffor.
Lone Star players on the trip to Namibia trip
Goalkeepers
1. Nathaniel Sherman
2. Mulbah Urey
3. James Galay
Defenders
4. Teah Dennis
5. Jimmy Dixon
6. Omega Roberts
7. George Gebro - captain
8. Solomon Wesseh
9. Solomon Grimes
Midfielders
10. Theo Weeks-Lewis
11. Zah Krangar
12. James Zotia
13. Alseny Keita
14. Martin Kandu
15. Abraham Brashall
16. Marcus Macauley
17. Sekou Jabateh
Strikers
18. Perry Kollie
19. Herron Berrie
20. Partick Wleh