No gifts for Warriors

No gifts for WarriorsChipolopolo rope in strong squad for do-or-die Afcon qualifier If Namibians thought Zambia would roll over and play dead in Saturday's Afcon qualifier, they should think again. The Brave Warriors, who are on the verge of qualifying for the 2019 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt, can expect no favours from Zambia, when they face off on Saturday at Heroes Stadium.

Chipolopolo's caretaker coach Aggrey Chiyangi says there will be no gifts when his side takes on Namibia.

Chiyangi told Zambian media that Chipolopolo's pride will be at stake in the game and they have to protect their reputation.

Guinea-Bissau and Namibia are top of Group K on eight points each, with Mozambique in third place on seven points.

Zambia are on four points and are out of the race for Afcon 2019.

Chiyangi also revealed that he will summon six to seven foreign-based players for the qualifier against Namibia.

He is also considering roping in Mwape Musonda, who is a known danger man.

The Black Leopards striker will return to the fold for the first time since 2017, and is currently the front-runner in the 2018/19 South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) golden boot race with 12 goals.

Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates duo of Justin Shonga and Augustin Mulenga and Zesco United striker Lazarus Kambole are also believed to be strongly in contention to start for Zambia.

Power Dynamos goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga will be Kennedy Mweene's understudy for the match.

Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti, however, remains undeterred.

His charges are currently training at the Highlands Park training facilities in South Africa before they head to Lusaka tomorrow.

“They will be at home and they need to salvage their campaign. We won't go there to hope for a miracle in Guinea- Bissau (where the home team is playing Mozambique), but we want to be masters of our own destiny. We are in charge,” Mannetti told Namibian Sun.

Chipolopolo are the 2012 African champions, whereas Namibia last qualified for the Afcon tournament in 2008, where they crashed out in the group stages in Ghana.

They also bowed out in the group stages of their only other appearance back in 1998, when the competition was hosted in Burkina Faso.

In order to qualify, Namibia need to avoid a defeat to Zambia.

The Warriors can also qualify if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique loses to Guinea-Bissau or if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique draws against Guinea-Bissau, as Namibia have better head-to-head record against Mozambique in the qualifiers.

The Warriors training squad consists of Virgil Vries, Maximillian Mbaeva, Loydt Kazapua, Petrus Shitembi, Tiberius Lombard, Ananias Gebhardt, Willy Stephanus, Denzil Haoseb, Peter Shalulile, Marcel Papama, Riaan Hanamub, Dynamo Fredericks, Emilio Martin, Ronald Ketjijere, Benson Shilongo, Ivan Kamberipa, Edmund Kambanda, Muna Katupose, Sadney Urikhob, Joslin Kamatuka, Charles Hambira, Treasure Kauapirura, Itamunua Keimuine, Immanuel Heita, Absalom Iimbondi and Deon Hotto.

LIMBA MUPETAMI