Tough CHAN draw for Brave Warriors
The Brave Warriors remain positive as they hope for a fairy-tale run in the African Nation Champions (CHAN).
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
Namibia's national football team has been pitted against some of Africa's toughest nations in the African Nation Champions (CHAN).
The tournament, slated for January 2018, will see the 2015 Cosafa champions playing Zambia, Uganda and African powerhouse Ivory Coast in the group stages.
However, Mannetti is optimistic that his team can cause an upset at the tournament.
Namibia will open their campaign against Ivory Coast on 14 January before they play Zambia on 18 January.
The team will conclude the group stages against Uganda on January in Morocco.
Namibia have avoided the host nation in the first round, but will still play two of Africa's former Africa Cup of Nation's winners.
“It is a tough group and the team will have to be physically and mentally prepared if we are to beat these nations.
“I knew the group was going to be tough and that is why I am not surprised by the draw.
“I have a very strong team that I believe will give their all in the tournament,” Brave Warriors Coach Ricardo Mannetti said.
The fifth edition of the CHAN finals will be held in Morocco, with 16 teams competing for the grand prize of U$1.25 million (N$16.2 million).
All the teams which qualified to the tournament received N$2.2 million for their heroic efforts.
Namibia qualified to the competition after beating Zimbabwe and the Comoros in the qualifying rounds.
Morocco heads Group A and will face Sudan, Guinea and Mauritania in Casablanca while Namibia and company will contest in Marrakech.
Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea are in Group C and will play in Tangier while in Agadir; Group D will take centre stage with Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.
The quarterfinals will be played on 27 and 28 January, whilst the semi-finals will be held on 31 January 2018.
The third-place match will be on 3 February and the grand finale is slated for 4 February 2018 at the newly refurbished Mohamed V Complex in Casablanca.
Namibia's national football team has been pitted against some of Africa's toughest nations in the African Nation Champions (CHAN).
The tournament, slated for January 2018, will see the 2015 Cosafa champions playing Zambia, Uganda and African powerhouse Ivory Coast in the group stages.
However, Mannetti is optimistic that his team can cause an upset at the tournament.
Namibia will open their campaign against Ivory Coast on 14 January before they play Zambia on 18 January.
The team will conclude the group stages against Uganda on January in Morocco.
Namibia have avoided the host nation in the first round, but will still play two of Africa's former Africa Cup of Nation's winners.
“It is a tough group and the team will have to be physically and mentally prepared if we are to beat these nations.
“I knew the group was going to be tough and that is why I am not surprised by the draw.
“I have a very strong team that I believe will give their all in the tournament,” Brave Warriors Coach Ricardo Mannetti said.
The fifth edition of the CHAN finals will be held in Morocco, with 16 teams competing for the grand prize of U$1.25 million (N$16.2 million).
All the teams which qualified to the tournament received N$2.2 million for their heroic efforts.
Namibia qualified to the competition after beating Zimbabwe and the Comoros in the qualifying rounds.
Morocco heads Group A and will face Sudan, Guinea and Mauritania in Casablanca while Namibia and company will contest in Marrakech.
Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea are in Group C and will play in Tangier while in Agadir; Group D will take centre stage with Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.
The quarterfinals will be played on 27 and 28 January, whilst the semi-finals will be held on 31 January 2018.
The third-place match will be on 3 February and the grand finale is slated for 4 February 2018 at the newly refurbished Mohamed V Complex in Casablanca.
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