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Cape Town - The Brave Warriors of Namibia are set to welcome Senegal’s Lions of Teranga as they honour their 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Group K Qualifier hoping to stun their visitors.
Senegal will leave Namibia for South Africa after their weekend clash and get ready to play Bafana Bafana in a midweek Nelson Mandela Challenge game in Soweto.
Coach Ricardo Mannetti will have to rally behind his charges aiming for the full three points and revive their hopes of climbing Group K’s log standings. The hosts are placed at the bottom of the standings with zero points after losing their opener to Niger in June.
Despite their preparations going well, the Southern African side will be without Gaborone United’s Benson Shilongo who has been ruled out due to a head injury he sustained whilst playing for his club.
However, players such as goalkeeper Virgil Vries, Ronald Ketjijere, Willem Nwedihanga and Petrus Shitembi are expected to be key for the hosts as they’d like to use their home ground advantage.
On the other hand, the visitors will also target the full three points and consolidate their top of the log position following their 3-1 victory over Burundi in June.
They’re placed at number one on the log with three points and the trip to Namibia allows them a chance to bag their second win.
Coach Aliou Cisse’s men are seen as favourites to win the group ,but the 2015 Cosafa champions could stun them considering their hunger to reach Gabon in 2017.
Cisse has also experienced an injury blow in his squad with reports suggesting that midfielder Alfred Ndiaye is out for this tie - he is replaced by Eupen’s Diawandopu Diagne.
However, Cisse will be hoping to see his skipper, Lamine Sane and experienced players such as Diafra Sakho, Kara Mbodji and Sadio Mane in fine form on the day to help claim a win.
The match gets underway at 15:30 and the venue is the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday, September 5.
