Namibia’s head coach Woody Jacobs says his team will do anything to beat Zambia to qualify for Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, even if it means that they have to “die on the pitch”.
The Namibians are in Lusaka to face Zambia in Wednesday’s first leg of the final qualifying round for Morocco 2022 and the tactician shares his team’s quest ahead of the double-header.
“The overall mood in the camp is quite good and the girls are looking forward to the game,” Jacobs told CAFOnline.com.
“It’s a historic tie because Namibia is on the brink of qualifying for the first time for the AWCON although we hosted in 2014. The importance cannot be overemphasized and the girls know this.
“I don’t want to preempt but I believe they are ready for this and will die on the pitch to write their names in Namibian women football history. There is no vengeance on our mind but rather an opponent in our way of securing our dreams.
“Zambia is a powerhouse and nobody gives Namibia a change and we respect that but we are going all out to realize our football destiny.”
The Brave Gladiators upset 2021 COSAFA queens Tanzania 5-3 on aggregate, while the Copper Queens edged Malawi 4-3 on aggregate to set up an all COSAFA second-round decisive date.
The Gladiators will be counting on Zenatha Coleman’s exploits, after her five goals over two legs saw off Tanzania last October, while Zambia will be relying on Barbra Banda’s form.
Jacobs is still optimistic that the 2014 WAFCON hosts can return to the continent’s showpiece this year, however, and has promised to guide the Namibians past Banda and Bruce Mwape’s side.
“Zambia will be a different proposition altogether and we don’t want to compare them to Tanzania,” he continued.
“We know what Zambia possesses where their strengths lie because it’s a great footballing lesson but this time around we will battle them all the way rest assured.
“I am the kind of coach that doesn’t single out players but rather focus on the team. She [Barbra Banda] is a great player but like any player, they are only as good as their team.
“We have a task at hand and a massive one if you ask me and one we are willing to face head-on. If you want to qualify for big competitions like WAFCON you have to beat the likes of Zambia and great players like Banda in their midst.”
A favourable first leg result in Lusaka on Wednesday will offer Namibia a huge qualification advantage ahead of the reserve fixture in Windhoek on Tuesday.
Credit:CAF
