Gladiators seek comeback against Seychelles
Football
Namibia’s Brave Gladiators have it all to do when they face debutant Seychelles today at 12:00 in their second match of the 2024 Cosafa Women’s Championship in Gqeberha, South Africa. The team led by Zenatha Coleman as captain narrowly lost their opening match 1-0 with a late goal to South Africa and will be hoping to bounce back emphatically.
Namibia is currently third in the group, while Seychelles are at the bottom of the group with both teams yet to register points on the board.
The Brave Gladiators will take confidence from the fact that they have only conceded one goal so far, while their opponents today lost 6-0 to Eswatini in their opening match.
Eswatini are on top of the group and they will face South Africa in their second match, which Namibia will hope can be a draw in order for them to still have a chance of progressing to the knockout stages. Only the winning team from each of the four groups will advance to the semi-finals.
The team’s coach, Woody Jacobs, is optimistic that all is not lost as they battle a team expected to give them fewer problems than South Africa.
“I believe that we are still in it and do have a good chance of qualifying provided we beat Seychelles and Eswatini.
“The team remains positive and we will see how this result will turn out, but I remain confident in the players at my disposal,” Jacobs said.
Namibia will play their final group match against Eswatini on Monday 28 October.
Fans can catch all games’ live broadcasts for free via Cosafa’s YouTube channel.
Namibia Brave Gladiators squad:
Goalkeepers: Agnes Kauzuu, Melissa Mateus.
Defenders: Mbakondja Kahiriri, Lydiana Nanamus, Iina Ndapewa Katuta, Emma Naris, Lovisa Mulunga, Julia Rutjindo, Ivone Kooper, Twelikondjele Amukoto.
Midfielders: Asteria Angula, Memory Ngonda, Millicent Hikuam, Kylie van Wyk, Shanice Daries.
Forwards: Anna-Marie Shikusho, Fiola Vliete, Zenatha Coleman, Juliana Blou, Anna-Ida Heidi Somses.
• On Wednesday, defending champions Malawi started the defence of their title with a 1-1 draw against Botswana, while Madagascar claimed a 5-1 victory over fellow Islanders Mauritius in the earlier fixture in Group B.