Lesotho puts Warriors’ CHAN campaign at risk

A string of recent disappointing results continued in another competition for Namibia’s Brave Warriors.Kicking off their campaign of qualifying for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) under newly appointed coaches John Sikerete and Leonard Nambandi, the Namibians started off on the back following Saturday’s 0-1 loss to Lesotho in the Bloemfontein Stadium.Lesotho, who had previously been a thorn in Namibia’s side with a head-to-head record of four wins, three draws and four losses, won the match thanks to Hlompho “Stigga” Kalake’s goal in the 23rd minute.The match was not broadcast and was attended by a small group of mostly Lesotho fans in the largely empty 45 000 seat stadium.The result was met with disappointment by Namibian supporters on social media, who have also had to come to terms with their nation’s recent elimination from the race in qualifying Group J for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.The CHAN competition, exclusively featuring players from clubs in each country’s domestic leagues, saw Namibia exposing a new combination built largely around a core of African Stars and Eeshoke Chula Chula’s best – two of the prominent teams that faced each other most recently in the Hage Geingob Cup match, with the new season of the Namibia Premier Football League only scheduled to start on 2 November.Namibia will now need to hit back immediately in their rematch with Lesotho on 2 November, which wil again be played at Bloemfontein Stadium, but this time regarded as Namibia’s home match. The aggregate winner will progress to face Angola in the final round of qualifiers, with the northern neighbours looming large as a threat to the Brave Warriors’ hopes of reaching next year’s CHAN tournament co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in February.Namibia’s starting line-up on Saturday was Ndisiro Kamaijanda (goalkeeper), David Aingwafa, Charles Hambira (captain), Kennedy Eib, Sergio Damaseb, Ngero Katua, Paulus Amutenya, Mbakondja Tjahikika, Fares Haidula, Willy Stephanus and Eliakim Jackson.The bench consisted of John Muronga, Tomwell Damaseb (both goalkeepers), Petrus Kamati, Erasmus Ikeinge, Tully Nashixwa, Devin Somseb, Pollen Rooi, Godwin Eiseb, George Marselinu, Elago Simon and Lawrence Doeseb.

Lesotho puts Warriors’ CHAN campaign at risk

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Lesotho puts Warriors’ CHAN campaign at risk

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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