We are going to play for the nation at Afcon: Benjamin

Senior national football team coach, Collin Benjamin, has said while no one is optimistic about the Brave Warriors’ chances in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), their objective is to represent Namibia with pride.

Benjamin said this after their goalless draw with Ghana in Kumasi Monday night, ahead of their trip to Ivory Coast. Namibia is drawn in Group E alongside Mali, Tunisia, and neighbours South Africa.

In an interview availed to the media by the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Benjamin said his team had a test with a physically and technically skilled team on Monday, but as a coach, he was pleased with his players’ display.

“We played an equally good game as a collective. The players displayed energy, enthusiasm, and conviction, which saw us creating scoring opportunities that could have had us up in the game with two goals, but there is a learning process for some younger players who need to understand that when opportunities avail themselves, you must capitalise on them,” he said.

The coach added that at the upcoming continental championship, Namibia is not considered one of the favourites, but their character, willpower, and hunger will push them to do better than they have done in previous competitions.

“In our game against Ghana we created chances, and chances created at this level give us hope because if we can create these opportunities at the competition, it will be good. But it also shows us that there is a lot of work to be done ahead of the competition,” Benjamin said.

He further stated that when in Ivory Coast, they are not only going to play for themselves, but for the nation. Despite not being given a chance of winning a game by the bookkeepers, the Brave Warriors are hopeful of doing better than their previous appearance at the Afcon. Since their maiden appearance at Afcon in 1998, Namibia has qualified for the 2008 and 2019 tournaments and is yet to win a game.

At this year’s championship, Namibia will open their campaign on 16 January 2024 in Korgoho against Tunisia.

(NAMPA)
HK/AS
(NAMPA)