WINDHOEK, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's senior football team head coach Ricardo Manneti believes his team's tactical harmony should be enough to spur his charges on to victory against Morocco when the two clash in AFCON 2019 on Sunday in their Group D opening match.
The Brave Warriors - Namibia's football team - jetted into Cairo from Dubai on Tuesday afternoon and held their first training session at their AFCON base on Wednesday morning.
Head coach Manneti said on Wednesday that his team knew their roles and the tactical nous required in order to stage an upset against African giants Morocco.
"Everyone understands their role in the team, how we can play and where we want to be. The selection of the final 23 players says it all in terms of tactical harmony. We have not beaten Morocco in about six games now and we have a lot of hope because of our preparations. It's a once-off match and it will be tricky and different and a draw or victory against Morocco will be key," he said.
He also believes that his team has responded well to the change in weather and believes it will be key in his squad producing the performance they need.
"During the run this morning, the guys said they can handle this weather which is good because we play in the afternoon on Sunday and compared to night temperatures of 33 degrees in Dubai, they can surely handle it. The team is poised to improve on their latest heroics and that can only be good for us," he said.
However, team captain Ronald Ketjijere, winger Willy Stephanus and Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nyambe are nursing minor knocks ahead of the opening match.
Namibia was drawn in Group D, that has been dubbed the tournament's 'Group of death,' boasting African giants Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco and neighbouring South Africa.
The Brave Warriors will play Morocco on June 23 before taking on South Africa on June 28, both at Al Salam Stadium. They will play their final group game against Cote d'Ivoire on July 1 at Cairo International Stadium.
