The head coach of the senior national women’s football team, Paulus Shipanga, announced a 23-women’s squad on Wednesday for the 2024 Olympic qualification.
The Brave Gladiators are scheduled to take on Equatorial Guinea in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the First National Bank Stadium on 13 July, with the return leg scheduled for 19 July 2023 at Estadio de Malabo in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Shipanga said he is impressed with how the team is shaping up ahead of the games.
“The players are in good shape physically and mentally. We depart tomorrow (Thursday) for South Africa for the final stretches but overall the team looks good, no serious injuries have been reported, and all the players are in camp except Millicent Hikuam and Annoushka Kordom, who will meet us in South Africa,” he said.
He added that the Brave Gladiators are targeting the next stage of the competition.
“Equatorial Guinea won’t be a walk in the park, they want to advance to the next stage. We have a blend of tried and tested players, young players as well as new faces in the team who are eager to compete at the highest level,” Shipanga said.
The 23-woman squad departing for South Africa is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Agnes Kauzuu, Melissa Mateus and Quindra Batista
Defenders: Vewe Kotjipati, Lovisa Mulunga, Emma Naris and Lydiana Nanamus, Julia Rutjindo and Ndapewa Katuta
Midfielders: Ivone Kooper, Memory Ngonda, Juliana Blou, Millicent Hikuam and Annoushka Kordom, Hanavi Muhinatjo, Twelikondjela Amukoto, Elina Ulumbu and Anna Somses
Forwards: Zenatha Coleman, Jekohasana Kamatjipose, Anna Shikusho, Fiola Vliete and Kylie van Wyk.
The winners of the first round of the women’s Olympic qualifying tournament from the scheduled nine ties on the home and away bases will join the seven highest-ranked teams from the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in the second round.
The Brave Gladiators are scheduled to play their first match at 15h00 on 13 July in Johannesburg while the return leg is to be played on 19 July at 16h00 in Malabo.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency