Brave Warriors coach Ben Bamfuchile expressed satisfaction with Namibiaâ??s performance against the DRC, saying they still had a chance of qualifying for the African Cup of Nations finals in 2008.
Speaking at a press conference at Soccer House on June 20, Bamfuchile said he was happy with the fighting spirit that Namibia displayed against the DRC.
â??I was very happy with how the boys played. They played with direction and a fighting spirit, knowing they had to qualify. They created a lot of chances, but unfortunately they did not take them,â? he said.
â??What worries me is that we conceded a silly goal, but there is progress and the boys are putting in an effort. Now we almost have a team that can be counted on to get results at any time and place,â? he said.
Namibia have a slight chance
Bamfuchile said that Namibia still had a slight chance of qualifying for Ghana in 2008, but that other results would also have to go their way.
â??We will have to win our group, because the best three second placed finishers are already out of reach. Sudan has already qualified as a second placed qualifier, while several other countries are ahead of Namibia on points. We must make sure we beat Ethiopia by at least two or three goals and hope that Libya beats the DRC or that they draw,â? he said.
The DRC currently leads the log with 8 points from 5 matches, followed by Libya and Namibia on 7 points and Ethiopia on 6 points. Libya have a slight goal advantage on Namibia, with a plus one aggregate, while Namibia has a zero aggregate.
Namibia to play Malawi
Meanwhile, Namibia has been invited to play Malawi in a friendly match on July 6, which will form part of Malawiâ??s independence celebrations.
Bamfuchile said he would mostly make use of local-based players for the Malawi match.
â??I will mostly make use of local based players and ask maybe one or two South African based players to join them. I also need to spend more time with the local based players in our training camps,â? he said.
Namibiaâ??s next match will be in the Cosafa Castle Cup at the end of July.
On July 28, Namibia will play the host nation Botswana, while Angola will play Lesotho. The winning teams will meet in the final of the mini-tournament the next day.
â??I feel very comfortable with the draw. I also like challenges and to meet Angola in the final would be a classic match for us,â? he said.
Another friendly lined up
Meanwhile, the NFA acting secretary general Barry Rukoro announced that they would try and arrange another friendly match for the Brave Warriors before their final African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia on September 6.
â??We are trying to arrange another friendly match for mid-August. Our players need to gain as much experience as possible,â? he said, adding that the match would probably be away from home.